Oct. 2006 Sales: American Honda Motor Co.

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda and Acura total vehicle

sales of 110,624 for October increased 3.7 percent over last year on a

daily selling rate basis, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

American Honda light truck sales of 52,789 led the increase with a 15.6

percent gain that broke the previous October record of 49,193 set in 2004.

Sales of the all-new 2007 Honda CR-V totaled 20,413, representing an

increase of 95.7 percent in its first full month of sales while shattering

the previous all-time record by 3,744 units from July 2005. Total

year-to-date sales for American Honda continued on a record-setting pace of

1,271,134 cars and light trucks for the year, up 3.9 percent and on-track

for a 13th consecutive year-over-year sales increase.

"The increased diversity of both our Honda and Acura lineups is helping

to push sales up across the board," said Dick Colliver, executive vice

president of American Honda. "Judging by the new all-time sales record, the

all-new 2007 Honda CR-V is a hit with consumers, too."

The Honda Division posted record October sales of 94,747 cars and light

trucks, a year-to-date sales increase of 5.7 percent to 1,106,167. The

Civic Hybrid model posted record October sales with 2,288 units.

In addition, Honda Division light truck sales increased 12.4 percent

for the month to record 46,659.

Acura posted record October light truck sales of 6,130 units. The MDX

sport luxury SUV is up 6.4 percent to 4,429 and the all-new RDX crossover

SUV posted 1,701 sales during its second full month of sales. The TL

performance luxury sedan remained Acura's best selling model in October,

delivering 5,790 units.

               American Honda Vehicle Sales For October 2006
                           Month-to-Date                Year-to-Date
                    October  October   DSR**    October   October   DSR**
                       2006     2005  % Chg.       2006      2005  % Chg.
    American Honda
     Total          110,624  110,895    3.7%  1,271,134 1,223,812    3.9%
     Total Car
      Sales          57,835   63,401   -5.1%    722,847   712,965    1.4%
     Total Truck
      Sales          52,789   47,494   15.6%    548,287   510,847    7.3%
       Honda Total
        Car Sales    48,088   51,334   -2.6%    604,454   584,636    3.4%
       Honda Total
        Truck Sales  46,659   43,163   12.4%    501,713   462,069    8.6%
       Acura Total
        Car Sales     9,747   12,067  -16.0%    118,393   128,329   -7.7%
       Acura Total
        Truck Sales   6,130    4,331   47.2%     46,574    48,778   -4.5%
    Domestic Car
     Sales *         45,312   54,175  -13.0%    574,928   584,798   -1.7%
      Honda Division 39,522   47,896  -14.2%    514,864   519,988   -1.0%
      Acura Division  5,790    6,279   -4.1%     60,064    64,810   -7.3%
    Domestic Truck
     Sales *         32,376   36,644   -8.1%    411,850   385,253    6.9%
      Honda Division 26,246   32,313  -15.5%    365,276   336,475    8.6%
      Acura Division  6,130    4,331   47.2%     46,574    48,778   -4.5%
    Import Car Sales 12,523    9,226   41.2%    147,919   128,167   15.4%
     Honda Division   8,566    3,438  159.1%     89,590    64,648   38.6%
     Acura Division   3,957    5,788  -28.9%     58,329    63,519   -8.2%
    Import Truck
     Sales           20,413   10,850   95.7%    136,437   125,594    8.6%
      Honda Division 20,413   10,850   95.7%    136,437   125,594    8.6%

    MODEL BREAKOUTS
     BY DIVISION
    Honda Division
     Total           94,747   94,497    4.3%  1,106,167 1,046,705    5.7%
     Fit              2,797                      23,099
     Accord *        23,645   26,977   -8.8%    302,067   319,375   -5.4%
      Memo:
       Accord Hybrid    287    1,266  -76.4%      4,924    15,269  -67.8%
     Civic *         21,343   23,911   -7.2%    272,886   257,749    5.9%
      Memo:
       Civic Hybrid   2,288      231  930.1%     26,637    21,253   25.3%
     S2000              294      409  -25.2%      5,685     6,942  -18.1%
     Insight              9       37  -74.7%        717       564   27.1%
     FCX                  0        0                  0         6

     Odyssey *       11,172   12,116   -4.1%    150,550   145,755    3.3%
     Pilot *          8,335   10,872  -20.3%    127,672   112,525   13.5%
     CR-V            20,413   10,850   95.7%    136,437   125,594    8.6%
     Element *        3,314    4,351  -20.8%     45,016    47,434   -5.1%
     Ridgeline        3,425    4,974  -28.4%     42,038    30,761   36.7%

    Acura Division
     Total           15,877   16,398    0.7%    164,967   177,107   -6.9%
     RSX                761    1,488  -46.8%     16,158    17,775   -9.1%
     CL *                 0        0                  0         1
     TL *             5,790    6,279   -4.1%     60,064    64,809   -7.3%
     TSX              2,209    2,742  -16.2%     32,046    30,559    4.9%
     RL                 987    1,550  -33.8%     10,068    14,996  -32.9%
     NSX                  0        8                 57       189  -69.8%
     MDX *            4,429    4,331    6.4%     41,808    48,778  -14.3%
     RDX *            1,701                       4,766
    Selling Days         25       26                255       255

     * Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic and global sourced parts.
    ** Daily Selling Rate

[source: American Honda Motor Co.]

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Let me be the first to comment on the absolute ridiculous amount of CR-V sales.

looks like hondas catching some heat now, too. toyota must be loving it.

Looks like the PR spin masters are at work here. It says 20,413 2007 CRV's were sold but surely lots of those must of been 06 models. Not to mention in my area Honda is offering gas cards of $1500 on any purchase of a 06 truck.

Not so good for the Civic.

Not so good for the Civic.

211573[/snapback]

Civic is capacity restrained, as are a few other products in their portfolio. They are also in the midst of shifting Pilot production.

As a result, they literally cannot produce more Civics, at this point in time.

I believe it's their Acura unit that may be a source of slowing growth going forward, as the RL has never caught on and the RDX is pricey.

How did they manage to sell 20k CR-Vs? Unless it's because everyone saw how ugly the new one is and went out and bought an '06 model. Selling 20k of the new CR-V is like the Aztek selling 8k in a month.

Civic is capacity restrained, as are a few other products in their portfolio. They are also in the midst of shifting Pilot production.

As a result, they literally cannot produce more Civics, at this point in time.

I believe it's their Acura unit that may be a source of slowing growth going forward, as the RL has never caught on and the RDX is pricey.

211591[/snapback]

You're right. The Civics are limited to production here in the states, for now at least until they shift production of the Pilot to another plant (see this post). Once they do that, the Civic should sell several thousand more every month. The Fit is also limited since they are imported and only so many can be brought over (they are still selling very well overseas). I wonder how many of Honda's plants are running at full capacity.

How did they manage to sell 20k CR-Vs? Unless it's because everyone saw how ugly the new one is and went out and bought an '06 model. Selling 20k of the new CR-V is like the Aztek selling 8k in a month.

211611[/snapback]

I'm pretty sure that is a combination of both models, since there are still lots of '06 models on the lots that will get counted into this month and the months to come until they are all gone.

So why Honda is offering rebates on the Civic- 750$? This is beyond my understanding. Many Import lovers I talked to do not really like the new look of the Civic.

Couple of years ago, Honda was selling a lot more Civic than they do today. So why the plant can't produce the same number as it used to.

My bet is styling is hurting Honda, specially the interior.