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TOKYO — Honda is forecasting an 8 percent surge in global auto sales next year as demand for its cars grows in all key markets, the Japanese automaker’s chief executive said Monday.

Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. expects its global sales to grow to a record 3.4 million vehicles in 2005. It sold 3.16 million vehicles in 2004, up 9 percent from the previous year.

Honda plans to sell 5 percent more vehicles in North America next year at 1.45 million vehicles, with a new light truck model and the remodeled Civic compact, Chief Executive Takeo Fukui told reporters. It sold nearly 1.38 million vehicles there in 2004, up 2 percent from 2003.