Tokyo, August 27, 2003 --- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that as of August 2003, its cumulative worldwide production of automobiles had reached 50 million units. 

In 1963, Honda started automobile production with the mini truck,T360 and the small sports car,S500 . Production volume increased through the subsequent introduction of such vehicles as the N360 (in 1967), Civic (in 1972), and Accord (in 1976). After a period of twenty years, in 1983, cumulative worldwide production of automobiles reached 10 million units. Automobile production in the U.S. began in 1982 and quickly expanding in scale, greatly contributing to Honda's production totals. 

Cumulative worldwide production of automobiles reached 20 million units in 1990 and 30 million units in 1995. As production in Asia and other areas expanded, cumulative production of automobiles reached 40 million units in 1999 and 50 million units in August 2003. 

Based on its fundamental policy of manufacturing where there is demand, Honda has actively engaged in overseas production. Starting with knockdown production of mini vehicles (N600 and TN 600) in Taiwan in 1969, Honda began automobile production (Accord) in the U.S.A. in 1982, as the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to do so. Production sites expanded to various locations worldwide and Honda is currently producing automobiles at a total of 19 sites in 15 countries. 

Of the 50 million units, approximately 33.8 million units were produced in Japan and 12.6 million in North America. The Civic series comprisesapproximately 15 million units and the Accord series approximately 13 million units.