American Honda Sales Increase 7.3 Percent to New March Record [4.3.7]

[T Mac]

American Honda Sales Increase 7.3 Percent to New March Record
Car sales break decade old record

TORRANCE, Calif., April 3, 2007 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted the third-best month in history with record March sales of 143,392 Honda and Acura vehicles, a 7.3 percent daily selling rate* increase compared to March, 2006, the company reported today.

March also saw record American Honda sales in both car and light-truck segments with car sales surpassing the March 1996 record of 80,117. Year-to-date American Honda total vehicle sales of 354,208 increased 3.3 percent.

"We are on track for another record year in 2007,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. “The continued sales success of Honda light trucks and cars in this period of ever-increasing fuel prices shows the high consumer awareness of our excellent fuel economy across the entire product line.”

The Honda Division posted its best ever March with sales of 126,406 cars and light trucks, an increase of 9.5 percent over year-ago results. Record March Accord sales of 36,506 reflect an 18.8-percent increase.

CR-V sales of 19,658 rose 49.2 percent, helping the division post record March sales of 55,550 trucks, up 2.8 percent over year-ago results. The Pilot also posted record-March sales of 14,339, an increase of 6.6 percent over March, 2006.

Honda sold a total of 3,199 hybrid vehicles, including 2,813 Civic Hybrids and 385 Accord Hybrids, a combined increase of 6.7 percent over year-ago results.

The Acura Division posted strong March sales of 16,986, with record combined light truck sales of the completely redesigned and all new RDX SUV’s. The TL luxury performance sedan was Acura’s best-selling model with March sales of 5,769 while the TSX posted near-record sales of 3,232.

* Daily selling rate based on 28 selling days in March 2007 and 27 selling days in March 2006

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda and Acura vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com or www.acuranews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com and www.acura.com.

[Red Rock 777]

Unless I read the report wrong which is very possible the sales for March 07 were considerably less than March 06 ?

[Red Rock 777]

Originally Posted by Red Rock 777

Unless I read the report wrong which is very possible the sales for March 07 were considerably less than March 06 ?

Ridgeline sales.

[csimo]

Yes, to say Ridgeline sales suck is an understatement. I'm sure Honda is not happy.

What they will do about it is another story. Wish I knew!

[Kodiak]

The Ridgeline sales for March 2007 were 4007 units. This was less than March 2006 which was a record sales month for the 2006 calendar year. Compared to the average sales pace to meet the 50k stated yearly goal, the March 2007 sales are off 3.8% from that yearly pace. I would not call that a sales slump. In general, truck sales are down for the year. In light of the market, the result is not unexpected. Of course, everyone would be jubilant if the sales could be sustained at a 5k monthly rate.

[csimo]

I've received a couple of messages regarding my above post. I guess I should clarify my statement.

I didn't intend to cut down the Ridgeline in any way. The numbers show that the March daily sales rate for the Ridgeline was off 27.7% and was off 21.4% for the year-to-date.

This can't make Honda happy. My point had to do with what might Honda do? Will they ignore the sales trend and see what happens? Will they speed up a refresh on the product to try and boost sales? Will they consider taking the exteme position of exiting the pickup truck market?

I sincerely doubt that Honda would cut the project, but that has been suggested by others here on ROC.

I hope that Honda would realize that they're missing a good market segment that is looking for higher end options that are not available to Ridgeline buyers. No, not everyone wants these items, but Honda has made it difficult for that segment to buy a Ridgeline.

In any case I hope that the sales trend gets some attention at Honda and they realize the Ridgeline needs some attention before the traditional Honda refresh cycle comes around.

[UglyDuck]

must be the appearance, lack of horses & dismal gas mileage.

If people want great ride and handling they are going to stick to the SUV market not the SUT segment.

She may be the best designed, handling, comfortable vehicle of her sort on the road, but if she repulses people they sales are expected to be dismal.


Every review I have read has stated she is Ugly or repulsive, despite her outstanding functionality.

[Ridgetalker]

Ridgeline sales for January 2007 (3,432)

Ridgeline sales for February 2007 (3,570)

Ridgeline sales for March 2007 (4,007)

I also wish that sales were better but maybe as the temperature warms up more people will get out and car shop. I am seeing more of them around Louisville. I want Honda to keep making them for a long time. I love mine and it suits my needs perfectly.

[PPGFlyer]

It has sucky MPG I couldn't tell as it doesn't have an MPG readout like all the other 21st century vehicles seem to have.

They better get off their butts and put a diesel in it PDQ. Maybe they need to have a Hybrid option - how about a Diesel powered Hybrid - yeah, that's the answer.

Greg.

[INRidgeman]

More options? I think they need to do the opposite and make a basic work truck version paint em all white plain janers and rig em with ladder racks and storage bins. i bet fleet companys would buy em buy the truckload. This would make a great light duty service vehicle