October 7, 2003 - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has started imports of the "HORNET600" motorcycle manufactured at Honda Italia Industriale S.P.A., Honda's subsidiary in Europe, for sales in North America (U.S. and Canada) under the local sales name of "599". Honda's European-manufactured motorcycles have been exported to Japan before, but this is the first model to be exported for sale in North America.

The "599" is a high performance naked sports model, featuring a water-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC four-cylinder engine. In Europe, this model is available on the market under the name HORNET600 and has been a European bestseller for two straight years since 2001. In North America, motorcycles including the "CBR600RR" are now on sale and have earned excellent reputations. Through the introduction of the "599", Honda aims at improving sales of 600cc sports models. The projected number of sales is 1,900 units per year throughout North America with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 7,099 dollars.

Honda, thus far, has exported motorcycles from China to Japan, Africa, Central and South America, as well as the Middle and Near East; from Thailand to Europe and Oceania; and from India to Europe, Africa, the Middle and Near East, as well as Central and South America; and from South America to Europe. Taking advantage of the management resources of each region throughout the world and complementing the products as required between the regions, Honda will manufacture products in and supply them to the optimum locations to meet ever diversifying customer needs. This is the basic idea of "Made by Global Honda", and Honda is committed to further promoting this strategy.