BANGKOK, Thailand, December 13, 2007 – Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Thailand’s second largest manufacturer and exporter of passenger cars, announced its one millionth car rolled out from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ayutthaya.  It marked another significant milestone for the company since the first ‘made-in-Thailand’ Honda vehicle was produced in 1984.

Kenji Otaka, President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “This accomplishment of ‘one million’ total cumulative production in Thailand is not only a testimony of consumers’ trust in the Honda brand but also a strong vote of confidence in our people, technology, and design innovations.”

Thailand is a strategic manufacturing base for Honda vehicles in the Asia-Oceania regions, and the company’s commitment to its host country has gained pace with a series of well-timed investments, technology and skills transfer made over the past 23 years.

The company’s recent investment of Bht. 6.2 billion, announced in July 2007, in a second facility to be built adjacent to its existing one in Ayutthaya province will double its production capacity from 120,000 to 240,000 units when completed in late 2008.  The new Honda plant will incorporate clean production technologies, making it one of the cleanest auto manufacturing facilities in the world.

“Through our pioneering research, next-generation technologies, and innovative designs, we are constantly raising the standards for quality manufacturing and enhancing customer satisfaction.  Word-of-mouth endorsements by people who have personally experienced driving a Honda vehicle are valuable testimonials about Honda’s durability, safety, reliability, quality and environment-friendly attributes,” said Otaka.

Honda vehicles and auto parts made in Thailand are exported to 14 countries for CKD (completely knocked down – or components and parts needed to build a complete car) and to over 30 countries for CBU (completely built up – or vehicles exported fully built).

The 1,000,000th unit is the premium, upscale, all-new 2008 Accord which made its local debut in November 2007. The latest model – completely redesigned to make it bigger, roomier, sportier and more powerful – is also the first Honda model assembled locally that is gasohol E20-friendly.

Thailand’s total auto industry is now one of the top 10 automotive producers in the world, producing more than 1.8 million vehicles per year of which over 800,000 units are exported annually.