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