BEIJING, China, May 28, 2013 - Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (GHAC), an automobile production and sales joint venture of Honda in China, today held a ceremony to commemorate the start of construction of a third production line and a new engine plant within the property of the existing ZengCheng Plant. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, guests and representatives from the local governments of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province as well as Honda executives including Takanobu Ito, president & CEO; and Seiji Kuraishi, chief operating officer for regional operations in China.

The third line will be an environmentally-responsible and energy-saving production line, including a solar power generation system with a 10,000 kW capacity, the largest^*1 capacity solar power generation system installed by an automaker in China. The line also will be an advanced and highly efficient production line, adopting a highly-functional painting technology which significantly reduces the number of painting processes, as well as a highly efficient laser welding machine for the stamping plant.

The third line is scheduled to become operational in 2015, with an initial annual production capacity of 120,000 units. GHAC is planning to further expand the capacity up to 240,000 units in the future. When the third line becomes operational in 2015, GHAC's overall annual automobile production capacity will be increased from the current 480,000 units to 600,000 units, increasing Honda's overall annual automobile production capacity in China from the current 870,000 units to 1.01 million units.

The total investment for the third line (with capacity expandable up to 240,000 units) and the new engine plant is expected to be approximately 3.56 billion R.M.B. (approximately 59.3 billion yen^*2).

By expanding production capacity in Chinese automobile market, Honda will further strengthen its ability to deliver new products which focus on Chinese customers, with speed, affordability and low CO₂ emissions.