TOKYO, Japan, September 27, 2004 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced production, Japanese domestic sales, and export results for the month of August. With introduction of several new models and a minor model change of the Fit, Honda’s monthly sales ranked second among automakers in Japan for the first time in the last eight months. The Fit was also Japan’s best selling car in August for the first time since it achieved the position in August 2003.  (The Honda Odyssey also ranked as a monthly best-seller in January of this year.)

Both domestic and overseas production showed substantial increases in August, up 12.6% and 21.6% respectively, compared to the same month a year ago. Domestic production has now increased for three consecutive months due to strong domestic sales, while overseas production has increased for seven consecutive months due primarily to a major increase in production in North America, Europe and Asia.  

Total domestic sales increased 8.8% in August compared to the same month last year – placing Honda second in the Japanese automobile market for the first time since December 2003.  The Honda Fit, which received a minor model change in June, became Honda’s and the industry’s best selling car for the month on sales of 11,663 units.  Further, the Life and Odyssey models remained strong, with sales of 9,481 units and 5,730 units, respectively, while newly introduced models such as Edix and Elysion also made positive contributions to the sales increase, with 4,903 units and 3,444 units, respectively.

Total exports in August declined by 3.1% compared to the same month last year.  The remodeled Fit also was well received in Europe and contributed to a 72.9% increase in exports to Europe this month compare to August 2003.