Honda Sets 10th Straight All-Time Record for Worldwide Auto Production in First Six Months

JCN Newswires, July 29, 2008

Tokyo, July 29, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of June and the first six months of 2008, including an all-time record for worldwide auto production for the first half of the calendar year.

I. Production

June 2008:

Production in Japan for the month of June 2008 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the tenth consecutive month (since September 2007).

Production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease for the first time in 35 months (since July 2005), though production in Europe achieved an all-time record for the month of June.

Worldwide production also experienced a year-on-year decrease for the second consecutive month (since May 2008).

The First Half of Calendar Year 2008 (January-June):

Production in Japan for the first six months of 2008 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the first time in two years (since the first six months of 2006).

Production in regions outside of Japan for the first six months of 2008 experienced a year-on-year increase for the 12th consecutive year (since the first six months of 1997), setting an all-time record for the first six months of a calendar year. This includes record production for the first six months of the year in North America, Europe, Asia and China.

Worldwide production for the first six months of 2008 also experienced a year-on-year increase for the tenth consecutive year (since the first six months of 1999), setting an all-time record for the first six months of a calendar year.

II. Japan Domestic Market Sales

June 2008:

Total Japan domestic market auto sales for the month of June 2008 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the fourth consecutive month (since March 2008).

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

Sales of mini-vehicles experienced a year-on-year decrease for the fourth 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 June 2008, for the eighth consecutive month (since November 2007) with sales of 14,702 units.

Freed was the industry's tenth best selling car with sales of 5,331 units.

Vehicle registrations - Mini-vehicles - under 660cc:

Life was the industry's fifth best-selling car in the mini-vehicle category for the month of June 2008, with sales of 7,214 units.

The First Half of Calendar Year 2008 (January-June):

Total Japan domestic auto sales for the first six months of 2008 experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in six years (since the first six months of 2002).

New vehicle registrations in the first six months of 2008 experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in six years (since the first six months of 2002).

Sales of mini-vehicles in the first six months of 2008, experienced a year-on-year decrease for the second consecutive year (since the first six months of 2007).

Vehicle registrations - excluding mini-vehicles:

Fit was the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations for the first six months of 2008, for the first time in six years (since the first six months of 2002) with sales of 98,013 units.

Vehicle registrations - Mini vehicles - under 660cc:

Life was the industry's fifth best-selling car in the mini-vehicle category for the first six months of 2008, with sales of 49,686 units.

III. Exports from Japan

June 2008:

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

The First Half of Calendar Year 2008 (January-June):

Total exports from Japan for the first six months of 2008 experienced a year-on-year decrease for the first time in seven years (since the first six months of 2001).

Production, Sales, Exports (for the first six months of 2008)

Production
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                                 Year-to-Date Total    *1st Quarter
                         June       (Jan-June 2008)         FY 2007
                     Units  vs'07      Units  vs'07    Units  vs'07

Domestic(CBU CKD)  105,256  -8.6%    598,517 -11.4%  288,877 -12.7%
Overseas(CBU only) 217,610  -3.7%  1,388,973   8.5%  679,753   4.6%
Worldwide Total    322,866  -5.4%  1,987,490   1.6%  968,630  -1.3%
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Production by Region
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                                 Year-to-Date Total    *1st Quarter
                         June       (Jan-June 2008)         FY 2007
                     Units  vs'07      Units  vs'07    Units  vs'07

North America      118,165  -5.0%    743,516   0.2%  363,536  -1.9%
(USA)               82,018  -6.6%    518,729  -1.7%  249,836  -4.8%
Europe              20,553   1.6%    124,879   8.2%   57,477   0.1%
Asia                62,706  -9.8%    426,256  17.1%  210,293  11.4%
(China)             33,217 -19.2%    253,577  22.3%  126,323  16.8%
Others              16.186  35.6%     94,322  59.9%   48,447  45.2%
Overseas Total     217,610  -3.7%  1,388,973   8.5%  679,753   4.6%
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Japan Domestic Sales
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                                 Year-to-Date Total    *1st Quarter
                         June       (Jan-June 2008)         FY 2007
                     Units  vs'07      Units  vs'07    Units  vs'07

Registrations       35,412   4.1%    223,404  11.1%   93,450   4.6%
Mini - Vehicles     19,372 -21.1%    108,286 -10.2%   46,533 -20.8%
Honda Brand Total   54,784  -6.4%    331,690   3.1%  139,983  -5.5%
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Export from Japan
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                                 Year-to-Date Total    *1st Quarter
                         June       (Jan-June 2008)         FY 2007
                     Units  vs'07      Units  vs'07    Units  vs'07

North America       29,551  -8.3%    192,954  -1.2%   94,449  -2.1%
(USA)               28,005  -8.8%    184,039  -0.3%   89,781  -1.3%
Europe              11,336  41.3%     47,455 -19.8%   29,324  21.6%
Asia                 4,550  65.7%     20,688  62.1%    9,219  18.4%
Others               6,568 -46.1%     59,953 -16.9%   26,534 -30.4%
Total               52,005  -5.8%    321,050  -5.4%  159,526  -4.2%
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                                         *(April/01/2008-June/30/2008)