Honda Fit Ranked Best-selling Vehicle in 2002 in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 09, 2003 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd.,
today announced that its small car model, the Fit, achieved cumulative
unit sales of 250,790 units in Japan in 2002, according to statistics
from the Japan Automobile Dealers' Association. Thus, Fit became the
top-selling vehicle in Japan, the first time that a Honda model has
reached the No.1 spot in yearly cumulative sales.

Since its launch in June 2001, the Fit has proved popular with a
wide-range of customers for its trend-setting styling, good fuel economy
and excellent user- friendly features. Its cumulative sales now total
355,088 units in about a year and a half since its launch.

The Fit was first exported to Europe in November 2001, and is currently
sold to high acclaim in about 60 countries worldwide, as of the end of
December 2002. Including exports, cumulative production of the Fit,
which is manufactured at the Suzuka Factory, has exceeded 400,000 units.



History of the Fit

 
*June 2001         Launch of the 1.3-liter model 
*November 2001     Received the 2001-2002 Japan Car of the Year Award 
                   Received the 2002 RJC Car of the Year Award
                   Start of exports, beginning with Europe 
*December 2001     Achieved cumulative sales of 100,000 units in Japan 
*June 2002         Achieved cumulative sales of 200,000 units in Japan 
*September 2002    Launch of the 1.5-liter model 
*October 2002      Achieved cumulative sales of 300,000 units in Japan 
*November 2002     Facelift of the 1.3-liter model 
*December 2002     Achieved cumulative sales of 350,000 units in Japan