The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Honda Sets 10th Straight All-Time Fiscal Year Record for Worldwide Production


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 24, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd., announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, (Fiscal Year 2007) as well as for the month of March. Honda set new all-time fiscal year records for production in North America, the U.S., Europe, Asia, and China, resulting in the 10th consecutive all-time record for overseas and worldwide production.

Production

Fiscal Year 2007 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2007): Due to an increase in production for domestic and overseas markets, total Japan domestic production for Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in two years (since Fiscal Year 2005).

Due mainly to increased production in Asia, overseas production for Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year increase for the tenth consecutive year (since Fiscal Year 1998).

Due mainly to an increase in overseas production, worldwide production for Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year increase for the tenth consecutive year (since Fiscal Year 1998).

Honda set all-time fiscal year records for overseas and worldwide production, as well as for production in North America, the U.S., Europe, Asia, and China.

March 2007:
Due to increased production for the domestic market and overseas market, domestic production experienced a year-on-year increase for the tenth consecutive month (since June 2006).

Due mainly to increased production in Asia, overseas production experienced a year-on-year increase for the twentieth consecutive month (since August 2005).

Due to an increase in both domestic and overseas production, worldwide production experienced a year-on-year increase for the twentieth consecutive month (since August 2005).

Honda set an all-time monthly record for overseas production, worldwide production, as well as production in North America, the U.S., Europe, Asia and China.

Japan Domestic Sales

Fiscal Year 2007 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2007): Due to a decrease in new vehicle registrations, total domestic auto sales for Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year decline for the fifth consecutive year (since Fiscal Year 2003).

Though sales of the all-new Stream (introduced in July 2006) and CR-V (introduced in October 2006) increased, due mainly to a decrease in sales of Step Wagon and Fit, new vehicle registrations in Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year decline for the first time in three years (since Fiscal Year 2004).

Despite a drop in sales of Life, due to strong sales of Zest (introduced in February 2006), sales of mini vehicles experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in six years (since Fiscal Year 2001).

Vehicle registrations - excluding mini vehicles Fit was the industry's third best selling car among new vehicle registrations for Fiscal Year 2007, with sales of 96,599 units and ranked as Honda's best selling car for Fiscal Year 2007. The sales result for Step Wagon was 70,517 units.

Mini vehicles - under 660cc
Life was the industry's fifth best selling car among mini-vehicles for Fiscal Year 2007, with sales of 99,205 units. The sales result for Zest was 74,697 units.

March 2007:
Due to a decrease in new vehicle registrations and mini vehicles, total domestic sales experienced a year-on-year decline for the third consecutive month (since January 2007).

Though sales of the all-new Crossroad and Stream increased, due mainly to a decrease in sales of Step Wagon and Fit, new vehicle registrations in March experienced a year-on-year decline for the twelfth consecutive month (since April 2006).

Though sales of That's and Vamos increased, due mainly to a decrease in sales of Zest and Life, sales of mini-vehicles in March experienced a year-on-year decline for the first time in five months (since October 2006).

Vehicle registrations - excluding mini vehicles Fit was the industry's third best selling car among new vehicle registrations for the month of March, with sales of 12,787 units. The sales result for Stream was 8,307 units.

Mini vehicles - under 660cc
Life was the industry's fourth best selling car among mini-vehicles for the month of March, with sales of 13,966 units and ranked as Hond's best selling car for the month of March. The sales result for Zest was 6,894 units.

Exports from Japan

Fiscal Year 2007 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2007): Due mainly to increased exports to North America, total exports from Japan for Fiscal Year 2007 experienced a year-on-year increase for the third consecutive year (since Fiscal Year 2005).

March 2007:
Due mainly to increased exports to Europe, total exports from Japan in March, experienced a year-on-year increase for the tenth consecutive month (since June 2006).

Production 

                    *Fiscal Year 2007     March 2007   Year-to-date
Total
                                                            Jan-Mar 2007
                      Units  vs.FY06    Units  vs.2006     Units
vs.2006
Domestic (CBU+CKD)  1,348,085  +8.4%   125,181   +2.3%    344,802
+4.6%
Overseas (CBU only) 2,354,307  +7.0%   230,850   +7.6%    629,471
+9.3%
Worldwide Total     3,702,392  +7.5%   356,031   +5.7%    974,273
+7.6%

*(April 01, 2006 - March 31, 2007)

Production by Region


                    *Fiscal Year 2007     March 2007   Year-to-date
Total
                                                            Jan-Mar 2007
                      Units  vs.FY06    Units  vs.2006     Units
vs.2006
North America       1,394,025  +1.8%   133,328   +1.7%    371,448
+2.3%
 (USA only)           981,172  +1.9%    94,977   +1.5%    265,220
+2.6% 
Europe                190,538  +0.4%    21,861  +16.2%     57,995
+11.8%
Asia                  670,705 +19.8%    64,972  +15.3%    174,406
+25.0%
 (China only)         378,359 +31.3%    38,214  +23.4%     99,244
+35.1%
Others                 99,039 +23.5%    10,689  +30.4%     25,622
+18.8%
Overseas Total      2,354,307  +7.0%   230,850   +7.6%    629,471
+9.3%

*(April 01, 2006 - March 31, 2007)

Japan Domestic Sales


Vehicle Type        *Fiscal Year 2007     March 2007   Year-to-date
Total
                                                            Jan-Mar 2007
                       Units vs.FY06    Units  vs.2006     Units
vs.2006
Registrations         408,183 -12.6%    55,230  -12.3%    111,690
-7.8%
Mini Vehicles         283,346 +16.8%    34,438   -4.5%     61,843
-2.1%
Honda Brand Total     691,529  -2.6%    89,668   -9.4%    173,533
-5.8%

*(April 01, 2006 - March 31, 2007)

Export from Japan


                    *Fiscal Year 2007     March 2007   Year-to-date
Total
                                                            Jan-Mar 2007
                       Units vs.FY06    Units  vs.2006     Units
vs.2006
North America         366,252 +39.1%    39,811   -9.1%     98,818
+16.0%
 (USA only)           377,911 +43.3%    28,148   -5.1%     93,629
+22.4%
Europe                129,567 -10.8%    10,985  +25.1%     35,080
-12.7%
Asia                   19,195 +12.6%     1,677  -22.0%      4,979
+1.7%
Others                130,189 +14.9%    10,757  +18.5%     34,018
+34.0%
Total                 645,203 +19.7%    53,230   +0.8%    172,895
+11.1%

*(April 01, 2006 - March 31, 2007)

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles and power products and the largest manufacture of motorcycles in the world. Honda has always sought to provide genuine satisfaction to people worldwide. The result is more than 120 manufacturing facilities in 30 countries worldwide, producing a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment and automobiles that bring the company into contact with over 19 million customers annually. For more information, please visit http://world.honda.com.