| With the month of May over, car manufacturers | | | | same month. The five-door hatchback Fit sets |
| are already reporting their sales output for | | | | sales records when Honda sold 5,361 units of |
| the month. The American Honda Motor Co. | | | | the award-winning auto model. Month to date |
| reported that they have broken their May | | | | sale shows a decrease of 1.8 percent due to |
| sales record previously set in 2004. For the | | | | the additional selling day. A 99.3 percent |
| past month, the company sold 145,367 cars and | | | | sales increase was also recorded for the |
| light trucks. Last year, for the month of | | | | first five months of the year for the Fit |
| May, Honda sold 141,810 vehicles. | | | | compared to the first five months of 2006. |
| | | | |
| The increase is boosted by good sales for the | | | | The increased sale of the smaller Civic and |
| Honda division which sold 129,447 cars and | | | | Fit as well as the relatively small CR-V is |
| light trucks. Last year, the division sold | | | | pointed out as the trend in the US car |
| 125,639 cars and light trucks combined. Last | | | | market. "Small is big right now," Dick |
| month has more selling days than the previous | | | | Colliver, the executive vice president of |
| year which resulted to a daily selling rate | | | | American Honda, said. "Smaller vehicles have |
| of a 1.4 percent drop for American Honda. | | | | become more attractive for multiple reasons |
| | | | and we expect this trend to continue for the |
| The additional selling day also resulted to a | | | | time being." |
| 0.9 percent decrease for the Honda division. | | | | |
| For the first five months of the year, Honda | | | | Meanwhile, the Accord suffered from declining |
| has already sold 625,994 vehicles which | | | | sale. Last month, American Honda sold 31,915 |
| represent a one percent increase as compared | | | | of the midsize sedan. Last year, during the |
| to the first five months of 2006. | | | | same month, Honda sold 36,967 units of the |
| | | | Accord. That shows a decrease of 17 percent |
| Honda's increased sale is the effect of the | | | | with the additional selling day worsening the |
| all-time record sales for the compact Civic | | | | sales reduction. |
| and the Honda Fit. The crossover SUV CR-V | | | | |
| also posted its highest May sales record. | | | | As for Honda's luxury division Acura, a 5.3 |
| Honda sold 39,993 units of the Civic last | | | | percent sales drop was reported. The |
| month, marking an increase of 32.6 percent as | | | | vehicles across Acura's lineup excluding the |
| compared to May 2006 Civic sales. The | | | | MDX and the NSX posted sales decrease. The |
| previous record for the Civic sale was set on | | | | MDX which is known for its high performance |
| August of 2001. The hybrid version of the | | | | even without aftermarket ACT parts posted a |
| Civic also broke the all-time record set on | | | | 27.2 percent sales increase. Last month, |
| August of 2005. Last month, 4,250 units of | | | | American Honda sold 4,623 units while for May |
| the Civic Hybrid were sold and that is an | | | | 2006, Honda only sold 3,494 units of the |
| increase of 50.4 percent compared to May | | | | midsize luxury crossover SUV. The Acura |
| 2006. | | | | division posted a reduction in sales for the |
| | | | first five months of the year by 11.8 percent |
| Sales for the crossover CR-V increased by | | | | compared to last year's first five months. |
| 35.9 percent compared to last year during the | | | | |