Press Release

Honda Offers Dealer Development Programs

09/11/96

Honda Offers New Programs to Assist Dealer Candidates


WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Two new dealer development
programs to assist dealer candidates, including minority candidates,
in securing a Honda or Acura dealership, were announced today by
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., at the annual conference of the
National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers.

The programs focus on two critical areas of dealer development --
financial assistance and operations training. The programs are
effective immediately.

The American Honda Dealer Investment Program is designed to assist
potential dealer candidates who lack sufficient capital to finance a
Honda or Acura dealership. The American Honda Minority Dealer Training
Program provides one year of intensive dealer training, based on the
National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) training program. Honda
is the first Asian nameplate to announce a minority dealer training
program.

The Dealer Investment Program is a unique partnership arrangement
between a dealer candidate and Honda.  Honda provides capitalization
for qualified dealer candidates who find acquiring and operating a
Honda or Acura dealership to be just out of reach. Candidates for the
program will be evaluated on several criteria, including business
reputation, customer commitment, proven automotive experience and
minimum capital requirements.

The Minority Dealer Training Program provides one year of specialized
dealer training and combines in-dealership training with intensive
classroom learning at NADA's training facility in McLean, VA. The
training covers new and used car sales, parts, service, financial
operations and overall dealership management.

Honda's Dealer Investment Program and Minority Dealer Training Program
are fully funded by American Honda and are part of the company's
overall business plan, which promotes diversity in all American
business operations, including employment, purchasing and dealer
appointments.

"American Honda's Dealer Investment and Minority Training programs are
designed to work in concert with our corporate diversity activities,"
said Earl Campbell, Senior Manager of Market Representation at
American Honda. "We recognize that dealer candidates face unique
challenges in entering and staying in the car business, and we have
formulated these programs to increase their opportunities. We're
especially concerned about increasing our numbers of African-American
and other minority-owned dealers, and we'll be focusing considerable
corporate effort there."

The American Honda programs were announced this week at the National
Association of Minority Automobile Dealers Annual Legislative
Conference in Washington D.C. The conference is a yearly meeting of
minority dealers from across the country and culminates in meetings
with key legislators on Capitol Hill. Honda has been a major sponsor
of the Legislative Conference for the past three years.

Additional information about the American Honda Dealer Investment and
Minority Dealer Training programs can be obtained by calling Honda
Dealer Placement or Acura Dealer Development at American Honda's
offices in Torrance, Calif., at 310-783-2000.