Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - European Honda: September Business Brief (TOV summary)

1. Honda Achieves Record Monthly Worldwide Auto Production and Record Growth Across Europe

For the month of August, Honda announced that worldwide production experienced a year-on-year increase for the 25th consecutive month (since August 2005). Production in Europe increased 28.1% for the month of August to 13,898 units. For the period of January to August 2007, production in Europe increased by 18.4% to 149,442 units, compared with the same period last year.

According to the ACEA, Honda has achieved the highest growth in Europe of all car manufacturers operating in this market for the period of January to August 2007, with an increase of 15.4% to a record 211, 852 cars compared with the same period in 2006. Honda's market share has increased from 1.7% in 2006 to 2.0% in 2007.

2. Honda at the Frankfurt Motor Show

The Accord Tourer Concept and the new generation of Honda diesel engines, i-DTEC made their world debuts at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Honda Accord Tourer Concept provides a strong indication of the design direction of the forthcoming, all-new generation Accord range, set to debut in mid-2008. The all-new Accord range will boast one of the first all-Euro 5-compliant engine line-ups, including a newly developed 2.2-litre i-DTEC next-generation diesel engine. Compared to the current Accord engine line-up, power output will be boosted and emissions and fuel economy significantly improved.

The twin themes of Honda's stand at this year's event were "Sports" and "Environment". On display were the Small Hybrid Sports Concept, Honda's next-generation clean diesel engine, the production Civic Hybrid and the FCX Concept to demonstrate Honda's advanced environmental technologies. The "Sports" area of the stand included Honda's current F1 racing car, the RA107, alongside Civic Type R and Honda S2000 production models.

Link at TOV News

3. Civic Hybrid Tops VCD Environmental Car Ratings for Second Consecutive Year

The Civic Hybrid has been named Germany's most ecological car by the respected Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD: a major transport and environment organisation in Germany) in its Environmental Car Ratings for 2007-2008. As part of its rating process the VCD sought out the quietest vehicles with the lowest fuel consumption and the lowest level of emissions. The Civic Hybrid met all the organisation's requirements for environmental compatibility and comfortable driving, and it was highly rated for its outstanding quietness. This is the second year running that the VCD has chosen the Civic Hybrid as its environmental winner.

Link at TOV News

Honda European CAR SALES - August 07

By COUNTRY	Aug 07	Aug 06	07/06%	Jan-Aug 07	Jan-Aug 06	07/06%

Austria	326	344	-5.2%	3,202	2,952	8.5%
Belgium (inc.Lxbg)	373	330	13.0%	4,177	3,928	6.3%
Denmark	276	269	2.6%	2,870	1,788	60.5%
Finland	556	481	15.6%	5,301	4,301	23.3%
France	845	722	17.0%	10,424	7,838	33.0%
Germany	3,539	4,174	-15.2%	29,247	30,799	-5.0%
Greece	675	465	45.2%	4,572	3,511	30.2%
Ireland	307	211	45.5%	3,655	3,231	13.1%
Italy	1,090	1,050	3.8%	19,095	16,611	15.0%
Netherlands	482	396	21.7%	4,519	3,270	38.2%
Portugal	481	450	6.9%	4,414	3,539	24.7%
Spain	973	1,199	-18.8%	15,901	11,748	35.4%
Sweden	573	319	79.6%	4,433	2,661	66.6%
UK	3,028	4,084	-25.9%	66,962	63,184	6.0%
EU - 15	13,524	14,494	-6.7%	178,772	159,361	12.2%
Iceland	102	52	96.2%	762	715	6.6%
Norway	296	264	12.1%	3,475	2,214	57.0%
Switzerland	716	647	10.7%	6,013	5,890	2.1%
EFTA	1,114	963	15.7%	10,250	8,819	16.2%
EU - 15 + EFTA	14,638	15,457	-5.3%	189,022	168,180	12.4%
Bulgaria	37	28	32.1%	279	173	61.3%
Cyprus	235	175	34.3%	1,759	1,753	0.3%
Czech Rep	178	171	4.1%	2,074	1,661	24.9%
Estonia	327	251	30.3%	2,560	1,415	80.9%
Hungary	366	340	7.6%	3,240	2,577	25.7%
Latvia	283	147	92.5%	1,915	875	118.9%
Lithuania	130	62	109.7%	859	471	82.4%
Malta	29	13	123.1%	151	121	24.8%
Poland	1,119	847	32.1%	8,763	6,200	41.3%
Romania	236	28	742.9%	1,155	317	264.4%
Slovakia	101	89	13.5%	1,099	969	13.4%
Slovenia	120	88	36.4%	886	804	10.2%
EU 10 New Members	3,161	2,239	41.2%	24,740	17,336	42.7%
European Union	16,685	16,733	-0.3%	203,512	176,697	15.2%
Total EU(EU+EFTA)	17,799	17,696	0.6%	213,762	185,516	15.2%
Croatia	99	79	25.3%	927	655	41.5%
Israel	563	407	38.3%	6,194	3,582	72.9%
Russia	3,103	1,639	89.3%	19,770	9,479	108.6%
Turkey	1,486	1,713	-13.3%	12,708	11,034	15.2%
Ukraine	691	217	218.4%	4,131	1,873	120.6%
Others	356	203	75.4%	2,128	1,405	51.5%
Total EU Others	6,298	4,258	47.9%	45,858	28,028	63.6%
TOTAL EUROPE	24,097	21,954	9.8%	259,620	213,544	21.6%

By MODEL	Aug 07	Aug 06	07/06%	Jan-Aug 07	Jan-Aug 06	07/06%

Jazz	4,362	6,067	-28.1%	50,182	56,857	-11.7%
Civic - All Models	9,769	7,713	26.7%	100,848	72,185	39.7%
Diesel	1,599	1,571	1.8%	21,458	20,449	4.9%
Hybrid	776	328	136.6%	6,796	2,428	179.9%
Accord - All Models	3,057	3,461	-11.7%	32,062	30,029	6.8%
Diesel	569	1,099	-48.2%	10,472	11,206	-6.6%
CR-V	5,279	2,536	108.2%	59,295	32,266	83.8%
Diesel	2,162	1,148	88.3%	29,906	16,579	80.4%
FR-V	832	1,160	-28.3%	10,210	12,806	-20.3%
Diesel	333	564	-41.0%	4,702	6,786	-30.7%
S2000	27	52	-48.1%	849	1,091	-22.2%
City	627	619	1.3%	4,586	6,569	-30.2%
Legend	138	280	-50.7%	1,296	348	272.4%
Other models	6	66	-90.9%	292	1,393	-79.0%
TOTAL EUROPE	24,097	21,954	9.8%	259,620	213,544	21.6%
Diesel	4,663	4,382	6.4%	66,538	55,020	20.9%
Diesel Ratio	19.4%	20.0%		25.6%	25.8%
EU produced	13,261	10,074	31.6%	145,331	103,084	41.0%
EU Ratio	55.0%	45.9%		56.0%	48.3%

NB: Source Honda