Honda Division posts best-ever March [4.3.6]

[T Mac]

Honda Division posts best-ever March

TORRANCE, Calif., April 3, 2006 – With strong light truck and robust sales of the all-new 2006 Civic, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted record March results of 128,806 Honda and Acura vehicle sales, an increase of 0.2 percent over March 2005. Light trucks for American Honda also posted record March results with sales of 56,786, up 1.8 percent. Year-to-date American Honda total vehicle sales of 333,844 are up 8.3 percent on a daily selling rate basis.

The Honda Division posted its best March and third consecutive record month with sales of 111,282 cars and light trucks, an increase of 1.2 percent over year-ago results. Civic sales of 28,969 reflect a 14.0 percent March increase. In its second best month since launch, Ridgeline sales of 5,344 rose almost 38 percent, helping the division post record March sales of 52,104 trucks, up 2.7 percent over year-ago results. The Odyssey and Pilot also posted record March sales, up 2.0 percent and 7.4 percent respectively. Honda sold a total of 2,892 hybrid vehicles, including 2,232 Civic Hybrids and 581 Accord Hybrids. Year-to-date Honda hybrid sales of 9,102 are up 0.9 percent.

"Honda’s March sales numbers show that consumers are still embracing the light truck segment amid the prospect of rising energy costs,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. “Consumers are, however, seeking light trucks with higher fuel economy, and Honda’s numbers reflect that.”

The Acura Division posted strong March sales of 17,524 with record March sales of 3,355 for the TSX. The TL luxury performance sedan was Acura’s best-selling model with March sales of 6,767 and year-to-date sales of 16,804.

[MontanaFred]

...Ridgeline sales of 5,344 rose almost 38 percent ...

Must be all the awards that the Ridgeline is winning.

[RAdams]

I'm one of those March sales!

[xesmajew]

I am also one of those March sales !

[xd9x19]

I guess the nimnods over at autospies.com will have to eat some crow after basically claiming that the Ridgeline was a 'failed' model.

Hehe. I just want to get one before the "secret" gets out toooo much and I end up having to pay MSRP to get one.

[RJPerset]

I second that..............dido

[Dragonslayer]

Honda hoped that they would grab a bulk of any Element or CR-V owners that would be moving up to a truck and it looks like they did just that . The loss in new element and cr-v new owners from last march to this march is 1339 new sales and the gain in new Ridgeline sales is 1469 compared to last march new sales, a difference of 130 . Hmm.

[Steve Smith]

So, ummmm, even though it weighs 4,500 lbs., the Ridge is considered a "light" truck!!??? NOT!

[ridgeln]

I believe the "light" relates to what it hauls/pulls/does. My last truck was significantly heavier - I had it on a local scale at over 8,000 lbs. ('03 2500 Dodge Cummins 4x4 Crew Cab Heavy Duty) So I do consider this a :light" truck.

-ridgeln