Honda

Second Honda FCX Clarity zero-emissions fuel cell vehicle now on the road

TORRANCE, Calif., U.S.A., August 5, 2008 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that its second FCX Clarity customer, Jamie Lee Curtis, took delivery of the vehicle on July 31, 2008. Curtis and husband Christopher Guest are the second of approximately 200 customers who will begin leasing the vehicle in the United States and Japan over the next three years.

Honda Delivers Honda FCX Clarity to Jamie Lee Curtis

"I really wasn't expecting it to be so luxurious," said Curtis. "It's luxurious, luxurious, luxurious! I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is user-friendly and very modern."

FCX Clarity Leasing in Japan to begin November 2008

TOKYO, Japan, July 2, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled the Japan model of its FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, which will also be displayed at the Environmental Showcase at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit that begins July 7, 2008. Leasing in Japan is scheduled to begin November 2008.

2009 Honda FCX Clarity Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicle

Initially, leases are to be limited to government agencies and certain corporate customers. Numerous FCX Clarity events are to be held beginning in 2009 at which the public will have the opportunity to come in contact with the FCX Clarity and gain a greater appreciation of the appeal of fuel cell vehicles.

Fuel-efficient Honda Fit sets all-time record; Honda Civic and Acura TSX set June records

TORRANCE, Calif., July 1, 2008 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced total June sales of 142,539, up 13.8 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis(1), setting a new record for the month. Reflecting a shifting automotive marketplace, total car sales set a new June record for the first time since 1990 at 97,639, up 34.2 percent versus last year. Year-to-date American Honda sales are up 4.8 percent to 798,358.

2008 Honda Civic family

TOKYO, Japan, June 26, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of May 2008.

Production in Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease for the ninth consecutive month (since September 2007).

2008 Honda Civic Sedan

Production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year increase for the 34th consecutive month (since August 2005), setting an all-time record for the month of May. This includes record production for the month of May in Asia and China.

Worldwide production experienced a year-on-year decrease for the first time in two months (since March 2008).

NEW DELHI, India, June 18, 2008– In a pioneering move, Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, launched India’s first hybrid car – the globally acclaimed Honda Civic Hybrid.

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

In line with Honda's long-term commitment to the development of advanced and environmentally-friendly technologies that do not compromise on driving pleasure, the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid offers a rare combination of being environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and also having a high fun-to-drive quotient.

06/19/2008, TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda has fully deployed its fleet of Auto-Max® railcars, achieving a significant reduction in the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions associated with its automobile distribution activities in the United States. The 400-car fleet of more space-efficient Auto-Max railcars is the only such automaker-operated fleet in use in the United States. Including the Auto-Max fleet shipments, American Honda currently transports about 82 percent of its Honda and Acura automobiles across the country by rail, achieving the highest rail-shipping rate of any automaker.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil, June 19, 2008 – Honda’s automobile production and sales subsidiary in Brazil, Honda Automoveis do Brasil Ltda. (HAB), reached the 500,000-unit cumulative automobile production milestone, June 18, 2008.

HAB began auto production with the Civic model in September 1997, and added production of Fit in 2003. HAB has been supplying these models to customers in Brazil as well as customers in neighboring countries such as Argentina, Peru, and Chile. In 2006, to fulfill increasing demand for FFVs (flexible fuel vehicles) in Brazil, HAB added a FFV version of both Civic and Fit to the product lineup. The sales ratio of these FFV models to Honda’s overall sales in Brazil exceeded 40% in 2007, demonstrating the popularity of these FFV models.

TOKYO, Japan, June 23, 2008 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. issued the Honda Environmental Annual Report 2008 (Japanese language version), outlining results of the company’s environmental initiatives for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 as well as targets for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.

In the report, Honda discloses a wide range of information, including progress made during the previous fiscal year toward Honda 2010 global CO2 reduction targets and FY2011 environmental footprint reduction targets for business activities in Japan, as well as initiatives to be implemented to achieve such targets. Honda has expanded the scope of consolidated data and the extent of global information included within this report.

A number of the new production processes showcased for the first time

TOKYO, Japan, June 16, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has begun production of the new 2009 Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, with the first vehicle (U.S. specification) coming off the line. In conjunction with the line-off event, media were allowed to view a number of the new production processes.

2009 Honda FCX Clarity Vehicle Assembly

Breakthrough zero emissions vehicle to be delivered in July

06/16/2008, TOCHIGI, Japan -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced five of the first customers for its advanced new Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle and also provided details of the world's first fuel cell vehicle dealership network in the United States. The announcements were made during a ceremony for the start of FCX Clarity production at the world's first dedicated fuel cell vehicle manufacturing facility in Japan.

Honda FCX Clarity Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicle

TOKYO, Japan, June 10, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will provide its new fuel cell vehicle, FCX Clarity, as well as Civic Hybrid and other advanced technologies for the G8Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held July 7-9, 2008. Honda decided to participate in support of the Japanese government’s effort to showcase the most advanced environmental technologies at this G8 Summit.

Honda FCX Clarity Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicle

In addition to providing environmentally-responsible vehicles, Honda is to exhibit its advanced environmental technologies including the CIGS(*) thin film solar cells, of which Honda began mass production and sales in 2007, as well as the Honda FC Stack, which is installed in FCX Clarity.

All-Time Record Honda Civic Sales Top 53,000 in May as Honda Civic, Honda Fit and Acura TSX Break All-Time Records

TORRANCE, Calif., June 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., May sales of 167,997, up 11.3 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis(1), shattered the company's all-time sales record for any month as Honda Civic sales reached 53,299, up 28.3 percent versus last May and surpassing the previous monthly record for any car in the lineup.

2008 Honda Civic Coupe

New all-time records set in May included (previous record in parentheses):

-- American Honda total vehicle sales of 167,997 (August 2007: 158,342)

TOKYO, Japan, May 29, 2008 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will begin sales of a new compact minivan, named the Freed, in Japan on May 30, 2008. This new model fuses an easy-to-use and spacious cabin with stylish design. Special mobility assistive versions — Honda Freed with side lift-up seat and Honda Freed with passenger lift-up seat, also go on sale May 30, 2008 — while a Honda Freed wheelchair-accessible model will go on sale June 20, 2008.

2008 Honda Freed G

Honda Sets All-Time Record for Auto Production in the Month of April for Regions Outside Japan and Worldwide

TOKYO, Japan, May 27, 2008 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of April 2008.

Production in Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease for the eighth consecutive month (since September 2007).

Production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year increase for the 33rd consecutive month (since August 2005), setting an all-time record for the month of April. This includes record production for the month of April in North America, the U.S., Europe, Asia, and China.

LONDON, May 21, 2008 -- Honda is to launch an accessible hybrid car to allow more people around the world to adopt cleaner motoring technology and significantly reduce global car emissions. Going on sale early next year, Honda expects to sell 200,000 units globally of the new car annually.

The company will further accelerate hybrid sales by introducing a sporty hybrid based on its Honda CR-Z, Honda Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Honda Jazz Hybrid model. With all four of these models, Honda expects combined annual sales of its hybrid models to reach 500,000 units.

Dynamic and refined crossover SUV delivers 8-passenger seating, robust family SUV capabilities, and technology for safety and fuel efficiency

TORRANCE, Calif., May 21, 2008 -- The all-new, completely-redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot is set to debut at dealerships nationwide on May 22 with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price(i) (MSRP) starting at $27,595, plus destination and handling, for the well-equipped Honda Pilot LX -- the same as the 2008 model's price entry point, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

2009 Honda Pilot

Reduction in component size and manufacturing costs to improve hybrid affordability

05/20/2008, TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda today announced additional details regarding its new small hybrid scheduled for introduction in early 2009, as part of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Takeo Fukui's mid-year address. An official name and full product details will be announced later this year.

Program marks first-ever large-scale retail initiative for a fuel cell vehicle

TORRANCE, Calif., 05/20/2008 -- Honda plans to deliver about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles to customers in the first three years of production, with leases beginning in July, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

Honda FCX Clarity Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicle

The lease program marks the world's first large-scale retail initiative for fuel cell vehicle technology, and Honda has begun the process of identifying customers from a group of over 50,000 individuals who have expressed interest in the FCX Clarity on the company's website.

TOKYO, Japan, May 21, 2008 – A new 3-year mid-term plan began in April of this year. The basic idea for this 3-year plan is to establish a corporate structure necessary to sustain our strengths and that will enable us to grow globally in the future, and begin such efforts initially under the leadership of our operations in Japan.

Two concrete directions are set as followings;

1) To create world-leading environmental technologies, bring them to life as products, and offer them to more customers.
2) To achieve a significant advancement toward the next generation of manufacturing systems which will enable Honda to create such advanced products.

BEIJING, 29 April 2008 – GKN Driveline plans to open a major new production facility in Wuhan, China, next year.

Haixiang Wang, business development director for GKN Group -- China, said the company will build a 144,000-square-foot plant scheduled to open during the first half of 2009.

Speaking at recent press briefings in Beijing, Wang said the Shanghai GKN (SDS) facility in Wuhan initially will supply driveshafts for Dongfeng and Dongfeng’s joint-venture programs with Honda and Citroen. Expected to provide more than 600 jobs, the plant will have an annual production capacity of more than 1,000,000 driveshafts.

The company also showcased technology from its 10 existing Chinese production facilities during the recent Beijing International Auto Show (April 20-28).