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Tuesday 30 September 2008

Honda Business Brief: Issue 68 August/September 2008


1. Honda Will Make Three World Debuts at the Paris Motor Show

Honda's Paris Motor Show stand will feature models demonstrating the company’s current and future commitments to reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles. Making its world debut, the Insight Concept is the start of a new phase of Honda's hybrid strategy to bring hybrid vehicles into a price bracket where a broader range of people can afford them. The award winning Civic Hybrid has been restyled as sales continue to rise across Europe. Its new look – including tweaked front and rear lights, a more aggressive bumper and a new design of alloy wheel – will be shown for the first time. The third world debut at Paris is Honda's new automatic gearbox for the i-DTEC diesel engine. This has been developed in response to European customer demands for an automatic option for the 2.2 litre diesel. In addition, the all-new Jazz will make its European debut, and the FCX Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car and CR-Z Hybrid Sports Concept Model on display will reinforce Honda’s long-standing passion for and commitment to the Environment.

2. Honda to Begin Using Third Generation Pedestrian Dummy in Crash Tests

Honda will begin using its new third generation pedestrian dummy, POLAR III, in vehicle-to-pedestrian crash tests before the end of this year, with the specific aim of reducing pedestrian lower back and upper leg injuries which are common in collisions between a pedestrian and a SUV or mini-van. Advancing its pedestrian dummies is part of Honda’s ongoing research to mitigate pedestrian injury and by studying and replicating how the human body moves during a collision Honda can design its vehicles with the aim of reducing injuries. Honda has applied this technology using previous pedestrian models to all models sold in Japan and others, including the HR-V.

3. Honda Develops World’s First Driver-side i-SRS Airbag System with Continuously Staged Inflation

Honda has developed a new airbag system that continuously stages the volume of gas inflating the airbag on the driver’s side. This allows for a broader range of occupant positions and potential collision situations, therefore enhancing occupant protection. It features an innovative spiral-shaped seam structure and gas release control valve. The improved functions include faster deployment, so the driver is protected quicker; constant pressure is maintained protecting the occupant for longer and the airbag’s shape reduces the degree of protrusion into the occupant’s space and therefore the impact on the occupant. The new system will be available on the driver’s side of the Life minicar released in Japan in November.

4. Honda Develops New Multi-View Camera System to Provide View of Surrounding Areas to Support Comfortable and Safe Driving

As part of its ongoing commitment to safety, Honda has developed a multi-view camera system which displays synthesized views from four wide-angle CCD cameras (located in the front and rear of the vehicle and on the right and left door mirrors) on the vehicle’s navigation screen. This system helps to reduce blind spots, support smooth parallel or garage parking, and support comfortable and safe driving in a 3-way intersection where there is limited visibility or on narrow roads. This new system will be available first on the all-new Odyssey on sale in Japan from October.

5. Honda Offers New Driving Stability Technology and Support in Japan

The new Legend, which went on sale in Japan at the beginning of September, is the first Honda automobile released in Japan to feature Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS), a new driving stability technology. Motion Adaptive EPS prompts the driver to steer in the correct direction during cornering and in slippery road conditions. The technology works with Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist and Electric Power Steering, using vehicle speed and steering angle data to provide finely tuned steering inputs. It will also be available on other models such as the new Odyssey and the new Accord series, both scheduled for release in Japan in the near future.

6. The New Honda City makes its European Debut in Istanbul

The all-new Honda City now has more power and better performance with a new 1.4 i-VTEC engine, which provides excellent performance and flexibility, without compromising fuel economy or emissions. Its exterior style now features some visual elements of the stylish Accord with increased storage capacity around the cabin and a new design of seats to improve passenger and driver comfort. The all-new Honda City will make its European debut at the Istanbul Motor Show in October and will go on-sale in selected markets in January 2009.

7. New ASIMO makes its Russian Debut at Moscow International Motor Show

ASIMO attended the 2008 Moscow International Motor Show (MIAS-2008) in September, spending 13 days in the country’s capital, performing 50 live public shows to an estimated audience of 1.5 million. ASIMO demonstrated its ability to run, climb stairs, give and receive objects and interact with people as well as performing a unique dance. The MIAS is growing in size and popularity and this year over 30 countries are being represented, with over 1000 exhibitors and 2,200 accredited journalists attending. This growth has led to the show being recently named an ‘A' category motor show alongside Geneva, Paris, Detroit and Frankfurt, demonstrating the dynamic and fast paced nature of the Russian automotive market.

8. Honda Sun Celebrates Completion of New Plant in Hijimachi

Honda’s special-purpose subsidiary established for employment of people with disabilities, held a ceremony to commemorate the completion of its new plant in Hijimachi, Oita prefecture, Japan. The new plant has a universal design to further expand employment of people with disabilities, improve the work environment and employee benefits, and improve productivity and logistical efficiency. The plant started operations in August this year and has an investment of 800 million yen, with 50 new associates being hired by 2012.


CAR SALES BY COUNTRY FOR JULY 2008 - EUROPE

COUNTRY

July 08

July 07

08/07%

Jan- July 2008

Jan- July 2007

08/07%

Austria

214

337

-36.5%

2,260

2,868

-21.2%

Belgium (inc.Lxbg)

356

430

-17.2%

3,884

3,804

2.1%

Denmark

161

360

-55.3%

1,324

2,647

-50.0%

Finland

392

634

-38.2%

4,461

4,746

-6.0%

France

880

1,160

-24.1%

8,374

9,579

-12.6%

Germany

3,202

3,222

-0.6%

24,650

25,708

-1.1%

Greece

524

606

-13.5%

3,963

3,891

1.9%

Ireland

430

308

39.6%

2,820

3,343

-15.5%

Italy

1,607

2,168

-25.9%

13,026

18,005

-27.7%

Netherlands

623

532

17.1%

5,778

4,045

42.8%

Portugal

553

599

-7.7%

3,603

3,933

-6.4%

Spain

1,723

2,339

26.3%

13,200

14,928

-11.6%

Sweden

329

482

-31.7%

3,050

3,860

-21.0%

UK

5,453

7,367

-26.0%

57,946

63,934

-9.4%

EU – 15

16,447

20,544

-19.9%

148,339

165,291

-10.3%

Iceland

41

95

-56.8%

437

654

-33.2%

Norway

283

401

-29.4%

2,486

3,074

-19.1%

Switzerland

577

704

-18.0%

4,818

5,297

-9.0%

EFTA

901

1,200

-24.9%

7,741

9,025

-14.2%

EU – 15 + EFTA

17,348

21,744

-20.2%

156,080

174,316

-10.5%

Bulgaria

75

42

78.6%

344

242

42.1%

Cyprus

228

168

35.7%

1,538

1,529

0.6%

Czech Rep

186

209

-11.0%

1,489

1,896

-21.5%

Estonia

190

297

-36.0%

1,642

2,197

-25.3%

Hungary

401

380

5.5%

2,600

2,874

-9.5%

Latvia

8

302

-97.4%

704

1,537

-54.2%

Lithuania

124

126

-1.6%

918

757

21.3%

Malta

29

12

141.7%

206

122

68.9%

Poland

1,078

1,142

-5.6%

8,167

7,644

6.8%

Romania

268

151

77.5%

1,596

951

67.8%

Slovakia

107

123

-13.0%

767

998

-23.1%

Slovenia

112

116

-3.4%

846

766

10.4%

EU 12 New Members

2,806

3,068

-8.5%

20,817

21,513

-3.2%

European Union

19,253

23,612

-18.5%

169,156

186,804

-9.4%

Total EU(EU+EFTA)

20,154

24,812

-18.8%

176,897

195,829

-9.7%

Belarus

16

34

-52.9%

185

153

20.9%

Croatia

166

146

13.7%

1,161

828

40.2%

Gibraltar

32

45

-28.9%

241

185

30.3%

Israel

1,072

775

38.3%

8,862

5,615

57.8%

FYR Macedonia

20

18

11.1%

168

123

36.6%

Russia

8,001

3,057

161.7%

42,927

16,667

157.6%

Serbia

136

80

70.0%

751

405

85.4%

Turkey

2,168

1,969

10.1%

13,229

11,222

17.9%

Ukraine

1,508

598

152.2%

7,171

3,440

108.5%

Others

94

142

-33.8%

700

899

-22.1%

Total EU Others

13,213

6,864

92.5%

75,395

39,537

90.7%

TOTAL EUROPE

33,367

31,676

5.3%

252,292

235,366

7.2%



CAR SALES BY MODEL FOR JULY 2008 - EUROPE

MODEL

July 08

July 07

08/07%

Jan-July 08

Jan-July 07

08/07%

Jazz

5,433

4,909

10.7%

42,415

45,816

-7.4%

Civic - All Models

14,545

12,806

13.6%

114,333

91,016

25.6%

Diesel

2,063

2,789

-26.0%

18,106

19,856

-8.8%

Hybrid

1,528

994

53.7%

10,383

6,019

72.5%

Accord – All Models

4,796

3,785

26.7%

27,043

28,839

-6.2%

Diesel

986

1,251

-21.2%

8,265

9,813

-15.8%

CR-V

7,374

8,003

-7.9%

57,334

54,069

6.0%

Diesel

2,115

3,722

-43.2%

22,311

27,818

-19.8%

FR-V

719

1,307

-45.0%

6,745

9,397

-28.2%

Diesel

277

554

-50.0%

2,610

4,351

-40.0%

S2000

40

104

-61.5%

568

824

-31.1%

City

418

599

-30.2%

3,233

3,960

-18.4%

Legend

42

124

-66.1%

540

1,160

-53.4%

Other models

0

39

-100.0%

81

273

-70.3%

TOTAL EUROPE

33,367

31,676

5.3%

252,292

235,366

7.2%

Diesel

5,441

8,316

-34.6%

51,292

61,838

-17.1%

Diesel Ratio

16.3%

26.3%

20.3%

26.3%

EU produced*

20,587

19,022

8.2%

153,885

132,139

16.5%

EU Ratio

61.7%

60.1%

61.0%

56.1%

*UK and Turkey


CAR SALES BY COUNTRY FOR AUGUST 2008 - EUROPE

COUNTRY

August 08

August 07

08/07%

Jan- Aug 2008

Jan- Aug 2007

08/07%

Austria

281

332

-15.4%

2,541

3,200

-20.6%

Belgium (inc.Lxbg)

358

373

-4.0%

4,242

4,177

1.6%

Denmark

139

308

-54.9%

1,463

2,955

-50.5%

Finland

379

556

-31.8%

4,840

5,302

-8.7%

France

560

845

-33.7%

8,934

10,424

-14.3%

Germany

2,500

3,539

-29.4%

27,150

29,247

-7.2%

Greece

329

675

-51.3%

4,292

4,567

-6.0%

Ireland

137

306

-55.2%

2,957

3,652

-19.0%

Italy

726

1,090

-33.4%

13,752

19,095

-28.0%

Netherlands

836

482

73.4%

6,614

4,527

46.1%

Portugal

405

481

-15.8%

4,008

4,414

-9.2%

Spain

659

973

-32.3%

13,859

15,901

-12.8%

Sweden

284

573

-50.4%

3,334

4,433

-24.8%

UK

2,073

3,028

-31.5%

60,019

66,962

-10.4%

EU – 15

9,666

13,561

-28.7%

158,005

178,856

-11.7%

Iceland

28

102

-72.5%

465

758

-38.7%

Norway

312

296

5.4%

2,798

3,370

-17.0%

Switzerland

538

716

-24.9%

5,356

6,013

-10.9%

EFTA

878

1,114

-21.2%

8,619

10,141

-15.0%

EU – 15 + EFTA

10,544

14,675

-28.1%

166,624

188,997

-11.8%

Bulgaria

61

37

64.9%

405

279

45.2%

Cyprus

119

244

-51.2%

1,657

1,770

-6.4%

Czech Rep

245

178

37.6%

1,734

2,074

-16.4%

Estonia

179

295

-39.3%

1,821

2,492

-26.9%

Hungary

351

366

-41.0%

2,951

3,240

-8.9%

Latvia

7

285

-97.5%

711

1,822

-61.0%

Lithuania

139

114

21.9%

1,057

871

21.4%

Malta

15

29

-48.3%

221

151

46.4%

Poland

1,042

1,119

-6.9%

9,209

8,763

5.1%

Romania

184

236

-22.0%

1,780

1,187

50.0%

Slovakia

150

101

48.5%

917

1,099

-16.6%

Slovenia

81

120

-32.5%

927

886

4.6%

EU 12 New Members

2,573

3,124

-17.6%

23,390

24,634

-5.0%

European Union

12,239

16,685

-26.6%

181,395

203,490

-10.9%

Total EU(EU+EFTA)

13,117

17,799

-26.3%

190,014

213,631

-11.1%

Belarus

27

47

-42.6%

212

200

6.0%

Croatia

89

99

-10.1%

1,250

927

34.8%

Gibraltar

38

42

-9.5%

279

237

17.7%

Israel

1,038

579

79.3%

9,900

6,273

57.8%

FYR Macedonia

11

9

22.2%

179

132

35.6%

Russia

7,567

3,103

143.9%

50,494

19,770

155.4%

Serbia

133

121

9.9%

884

526

68.1%

Turkey

1,502

1,486

1.1%

14,731

12,708

15.9%

Ukraine

1,263

691

82.8%

8,434

4,131

104.2%

Others

80

137

-41.6%

780

1,036

-24.7%

Total EU Others

11,748

6,314

86.1%

87,143

45,940

89.7%

TOTAL EUROPE

24,865

24,113

3.1%

277,157

259,571

6.8%



CAR SALES BY MODEL FOR AUGUST 2008 - EUROPE

MODEL

August 08

August 07

08/07%

Jan-Aug 08

Jan-Aug 07

08/07%

Jazz

4,149

4,323

-4.0%

46,559

50,151

-7.2%

Civic - All Models

10,095

9,682

4.3%

124,396

100,743

23.5%

Diesel

947

2,547

-62.8%

19,054

21,451

-11.2%

Hybrid

1,163

784

48.3%

11,555

6,808

69.7%

Accord – All Models

4,045

3,098

30.6%

31,078

31,968

-2.8%

Diesel

952

572

66.4%

9,211

10,386

-11.3%

CR-V

5,541

5,356

3.5%

62,909

59,427

5.9%

Diesel

1,161

2,191

-47.0%

23,493

30,008

-21.7%

FR-V

480

838

-42.7%

7,228

10,237

-29.4%

Diesel

154

337

-54.3%

2,763

4,688

-41.1%

S2000

19

26

-26.9%

587

850

-30.9%

City

447

627

-28.7%

3,680

4,587

-19.8%

Legend

31

137

-16.2%

571

1,297

-56.0%

Other models

3

26

-88.5%

149

299

-68.6%

TOTAL EUROPE

24,865

24,113

3.1%

277,157

259,571

6.8%

Diesel

3,214

5,647

-43.1%

54,521

66,533

-18.1%

Diesel Ratio

12.9%

23.4%

19.7%

25.6%

EU produced*

14,617

13,329

9.6%

168,495

145,468

15.8%

EU Ratio

58.8%

55.3%

60.8%

56.0%

*UK and Turkey
Source: Honda Motor Europe
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