April 24, 2003 -- Honda Motor Co., Ltd., announced today that global production increased 2.9% in March over the same month in 2002, bringing total production for the fiscal year ending March 2003 to 2,961,760 units, a 9.9% increase over the last year fiscal year and a new all-time record.
Although Japan production was down 22% for the month, overseas production grew 27.6% over March 2002. It was the 27th consecutive month of growth.
Domestic sales were down 6.5% in March. The Fit again was the best-seller for Honda, and the best-selling vehicle in Japan for the month, totaling 32,430 units. Honda's Life mini-vehicle (18,751 units) and Accord (6,529 units) were Honda's other best-sellers for the month.
Overall, mini vehicle sales were down 20.7% in March, while passenger car and light truck sales were off 0.4%.
Export shipments from Japan in March were up 2.2%, mainly because of increased shipments to Europe.
Honda PRODUCTION, SALES AND EXPORTS - MARCH 2003
PRODUCTION
| March | Annual Total-2003 | Fiscal Year** Total | ||||
Units
|
vs.3/02
|
Units
|
Vs.2002
|
Units
|
vs.’02FY
|
|
| Domestic | 97,902
|
-22.0%
|
309,129
|
-10.0%
|
1,351,963
|
+2.8%
|
| Overseas (CBU only) | 161,085
|
+27.6%
|
465,309
|
+26.3%
|
1,609,797
|
+16.8%
|
| Worldwide Total * | 258,987
|
+2.9%
|
774,438
|
+8.8%
|
2,961,760
|
+9.9%
|
* except overseas CKD
**(04/2002 ~ 03/2003)
REGIONAL EXPORTS
| March | Annual Total-2003 | Fiscal Year Total | ||||
Units
|
vs.3/02
|
Units
|
Vs.2002
|
Units
|
vs.’02FY
|
|
| North America | 115,696
|
+23.2%
|
336,691
|
+20.2%
|
1,170,399
|
+10.5%
|
| (USA only) | 79,979
|
+26.1%
|
230,916
|
+24.5%
|
798,134
|
+14.9%
|
| Europe | 15,915
|
+5.3%
|
51,829
|
+22.7%
|
186,282
|
+42.8%
|
| Asia | 24,925
|
+72.5%
|
63,608
|
+67.2%
|
212,493
|
+36.1%
|
| Others | 4,549
|
+66.5%
|
13,181
|
+65.5%
|
40,623
|
+24.4%
|
| Regional Total | 33,164
|
+27.6%
|
465,309
|
+26.3%
|
1,609,797
|
+16.8%
|
SALES
| Vehicle type | March | Annual Total-2003 | Fiscal Year Total | |||
Units
|
vs.3/02
|
Units
|
Vs.2002
|
Units
|
vs.‘02FY
|
|
| Passenger Cars & Light Trucks |
78,034
|
+0.4%
|
155,258
|
-6.9%
|
602,379
|
+0.1%
|
| (Imports) |
(2,861)
|
+135.3%
|
(5,478)
|
+103.2%
|
(12,568)
|
+25.6%
|
| Mini Vehicles | 30,138
|
-20.7%
|
62,039
|
-22.4%
|
270,749
|
-6.7%
|
| Honda Brand TTL | 108,172
|
-6.5%
|
217,297
|
-12.0%
|
873,128
|
-2.1%
|
EXPORTS
| March | Annual Total-2003 | Fiscal Year Total | ||||
Units
|
vs.3/02
|
Units
|
Vs.2002
|
Units
|
vs.’02FY
|
|
| North America | 19,293
|
-16.3%
|
60,172
|
-14.4%
|
288,915
|
-0.7%
|
| (USA only) | 15,404
|
-22.3%
|
52,468
|
-16.6%
|
255,825
|
-4.1%
|
| Europe | 7,480
|
+214.4%
|
33,290
|
+129.1%
|
91,946
|
+48.5%
|
| Asia | 918
|
-62.9%
|
4,625
|
-25.4%
|
30,112
|
+6.7%
|
| Others | 5,473
|
+20.8%
|
16,157
|
+23.2%
|
74,947
|
+59.7%
|
| Total | 33,164
|
+2.2%
|
114,244
|
+9.7%
|
485,920
|
+13.5% |