Honda Wants Record North American Sales in 1997

12/30/96

Nikkei English News says Honda Motor Company has set its 1997 sales goal at 1 million vehicles for the North American market in 1997. The estimate represents a hike from the company's 920,000 projected vehicle sales for 1996, which is itself a 9% increase over sales from 1995. If the company attains the goal, it will top the sales record of 956,000 units, which it set in 1990. The company's 1997 goal consists of 900,000 units in the U.S., a 7% rise for that region, and 100,000 in Canada, a 40% increase.

Honda set the record setting target on the strength of local demand for its Civic small car. The company also expects sales for its CR-V sport utility vehicle to help out. Although the CR-V was originally designed for the domestic market, the company will begin exporting the vehicles to the US in January; its marketing research for the CR-V has led it to set a sales goal of 50,000 units in North America in 1997.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel