Honda Sets All-Time Record for Auto Production in the Month of July for Regions Outside Japan and Worldwide

August 27, 2008, Japan

Corporate

August 27, 2008 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of July 2008, including all-time records for production in regions outside Japan and worldwide for the month of July.

<Production>

Production in Japan for the month of July 2008 experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in 11 months (since August 2007).

Production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in two months (since May 2008), setting an all-time record for the month of July. This includes record production in North America, the U.S., Asia, and China for the month of July.

Worldwide production experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in three months (since April 2008), setting an all-time record for the month of July.

<Japan Domestic Market Sales>

Total Japan domestic market auto sales for the month of July 2008 experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in five months (since February 2008) due to strong sales of Fit and Freed.

New vehicle registrations experienced a year-on-year increase for the ninth consecutive month (since November 2007).

Sales of mini-vehicles experienced a year-on-year decrease for the fifth consecutive month (since March 2008).

<Vehicle registrations - excluding mini-vehicles>
Fit was the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations for the month of July 2008, and for the ninth consecutive month (since November 2007) with sales of 16,293 units. 
Freed was the industry's fourth best-selling car with sales of 8,948 units.

<Mini-vehicles - under 660cc>
Life was the industry's sixth best-selling car in the mini-vehicle category for the month of July 2008, with sales of 6,567 units.

<Exports from Japan>

Total exports from Japan in July 2008 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the third consecutive month (since May 2008).

PRODUCTION, SALES and EXPORTS

Worldwide Production

  July Year-to-Date Total
(Jan.-Jul. 2008)
Units
vs.07
Units
vs.07
  Japan
112,156
+14.5%
710,673
-8.2%
  Outside of Japan
229,996
+19.3%
1,618,969
+9.9%
Worldwide Total
342,152
+17.7%
2,329,642
+3.7%

Production Outside of Japan

  July Year-to-Date Total
(Jan.-Jul. 2008)
Units
vs.07
Units
vs.07
  North America
112,819
+14.7%
856,335
+1.9%
  (USA)
77,987
+12.7%
596,716
0.0%
  Europe
18,269
-9.1%
143,148
+5.6%
  Asia
85,802
+28.1%
512,058
+18.8%
  (China)
54,900
+42.3%
308,477
+25.5%
  Others
13,106
+77.7%
107,428
+61.9%
Overseas Total
229,996
+19.3%
1,618,969
+9.9%

Japan Domestic Market Sales

Vehicle type July Year-to-Date Total
(Jan.-Jul. 2008)
Units
vs.07
Units
vs.07
  Registrations
40,441
+29.1%
263,845
+13.5%
  Mini Vehicles
13,547
-10.1%
121,833
-10.2%
Honda Brand Total
53,988
+16.4%
385,678
+4.8%

Exports from Japan

  July Year-to-Date Total
(Jan.-Jul. 2008)
Units
vs.07
Units
vs.07
  North America
22,390
-31.1%
215,344
-5.5%
  (USA)
21,870
-29.6%
205,909
-4.5%
  Europe
16,811
+47.5%
64,266
-9.0%
  Asia
3,879
+53.0%
24,567
+60.6%
  Others
13,335
-5.8%
73,288
-15.1%
Total
56,415
-6.9%
377,465
-5.6%