Honda China 08 Sales Up 11.7% To 473,297 Units, Overtakes GM
Thursday January 8th, 2009 / 10h02
BEIJING -(Dow Jones)- Honda Motor Co. (HMC) said Thursday it sold 473,297 units in China in 2008, up 11.7% from 423,710 units in 2007.
The rise puts Honda ahead of General Motors Corp. (GM) in terms of passenger vehicle sales in China, which increases the Japanese automaker's sales ranking to the third place after Volkswagen AG (VLKAY) and Toyota Motor Corp. (TM). In 2008, GM sold 445,709 units in China through its passenger vehicle joint venture, Shanghai General Motors Corp.
Sales last year grew 3.7% to 306,183 units at Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co., Honda's 50-50 joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., from 295,299 units in 2007, the Japanese automobile maker said in a statement. The venture makes the Accord and Fit sedans and the Odyssey minivan, among other vehicles.
Sales were up 29.3% at 164,216 units in 2008 at Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., a 50-50 venture with China's Dongfeng Motor Corp., from 127,009 a year earlier, it said. Dongfeng Honda makes the CR-V sport-utility vehicle and the Civic sedan.
Imports of Acura vehicles more than doubled last year to 2,898 units, from 1,402 units in 2007, the statement said.
-By Patricia Jiayi Ho, Dow Jones Newswires; (8610) 6588 5848; patricia.ho@dowjones.com
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