Honda Motor November 2003 Japan Auto Output Falls

TOKYO December 24, 2003; Kazuhiro Shimamura writing for Dow Jones reported that Honda Motor Co. said Thursday its domestic car output in November sagged 15.6% to 102,480 units, falling for the 10th consecutive month, as the carmaker's domestic sales have been slow to recover.

The company's sales in Japan shrank 22.1% to 59,749 units in the month. A strong rise in mini-vehicle sales was not enough to make up for poor sales of other models.

Honda's exports in November slipped 19.9% to 36,757 units, but its overseas output grew 5.5% to 144,635 units, expanding for the 35th straight month thanks to strong demand in Asia.