Honda Foresees Growing Global Sales Next Year

TOKYO December 20, 2004; The AP reported that Honda is forecasting an 8 percent surge in global auto sales next year as demand for its cars grows in all key markets, the Japanese automaker's chief executive said Monday.

Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. expects its global sales to grow to a record 3.4 million vehicles in 2005. It sold 3.16 million vehicles in 2004, up 9 percent from the previous year.

Honda plans to sell 5 percent more vehicles in North America next year at 1.45 million vehicles, with a new light truck model and the remodeled Civic compact, chief executive Takeo Fukui said. The company sold nearly 1.38 million vehicles there in 2004, up 2 percent from 2003.

Honda also is predicting sales to edge up 4 percent in Japan to 770,000 vehicles next year, after inching up 1 percent this year, Fukui said.

Having entered the booming Chinese market relatively early for a Japanese carmaker, Honda is recording robust sales growth in China, up 73 percent this year to 218,000 vehicles from the previous year.

Sales will grow in Europe to 275,000 vehicles, up from 253,000 this year, according to Honda.