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Honda announces senior management changes in Motorcycle Division

1 May 2000

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announces the following senior management changes
in the Motorcycle Division, effective May 1, 2000.

John Petas, Sr. Vice President of the Motorcycle Division since 1986, will
become the Sr. Vice President of Automobile Service Operations. Petas, a Honda
associate for over 26 years, started with American Honda in 1974 in the
Automobile Division and joined the Motorcycle Division in late 1982. During his
tenure, the Motorcycle industry enjoyed strong sales in the mid-1980s, endured
the effects of the appreciating yen (which caused a decline of overall sales in
the late 80s and early 90s), and swung back into the current era of booming
sales.  Petas was instrumental in guiding Honda's U.S. Motorcycle operations
through these industry cycles and brought the Motorcycle Division to its current
state of record sales revenue and profitability.


Mr. Ray Blank has been named Vice President, Motorcycle Division and will assume
overall responsibility for the Motorcycle Division. Blank is a Honda associate
of 17 years. He was appointed Assistant Vice President of Motorcycle Operations
in 1989 and was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1998. He has had
a significant influence on the design of many current Honda motorcycles and he
has guided Honda's motorcycle racing programs through their recent successes.
Blank also maintains responsibility for the sales and marketing efforts of the
Motorcycle Division. Reporting to Blank are Mr. Silvio Carrara, Vice President
of Service for the Motorcycle Division, and Mr. Mark Pearlstein, Assistant Vice
President, Motorcycle Sales.


Honda is the world's largest motorcycle, scooter and all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
manufacturer. In 1999, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the sole distributor of
Honda motorcycles, ATVs, and scooters in the U.S., sold nearly 297,000 units,
more than any other company. American Honda$B!G(Bs Motorcycle Division conducts the
sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through
approximately 1200 Honda authorized dealers in the United States, and exports
products from Honda's U.S. factories to countries throughout the world. For
further information about Honda products, racing teams, programs, and dealer
locations, visit the Honda web site at: www.honda.com.


Please direct media inquiries to: Honda Press Department, 310.783.3745


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