Strong Civic and Ridgeline sales push Honda to its best sales year ever, Acura breaks 200,000 mark for the first time

Torrance, Calif. 01/04/2006 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced record sales results for both its Honda and Acura Divisions, pushing American Honda to another all-time record year in 2005. With sales up 5.2 percent to 1,462,472 vehicles, the results mark the company's 12th consecutive year of sales increases. American Honda December sales totaled 132,800 vehicles and light-truck sales of 65,894 jumped 14.1 percent over last year to set a new record for the month.

2005 American Honda sales highlights:

• All-time record American Honda total sales of 1,462,472 (up 5.2 percent)
• 12th consecutive annual sales increase
• Ninth consecutive yearly sales record
• All-time record light truck sales of 624,650 (up 13.7 percent)
• 13th consecutive year of record light-truck sales

"We are enjoying strong, consistent car sales and good growth in our light-truck segments," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "And we expect this trend to continue in 2006 as we enter new segments and introduce new versions of some of our most popular models."

Honda Division posted new all-time December and year-end records, driven by all-time record sales of Pilot and Ridgeline and record December sales of Civic, Odyssey and Element. Up 5.1 percent in 2005 to 1,252,862 vehicles, Honda Division sales posted its 12th consecutive year of increases.

"Despite fierce competition in a declining segment, sales of the all-new Civic continue to post gains," said Colliver. "In addition, with best-ever monthly sales of more than 6,500 units, Ridgeline posted sales gains in 10 of the last 11 months to finish the year on target."

With Civic Hybrid sales up 1.5 percent to 25,864 for the calendar year and the addition of the Accord Hybrid, sales of Honda hybrid vehicles rose to a new record of 43,356 vehicles for the year. December sales of Honda's three hybrid models increased to 3,290 units.

2005 Honda Division sales highlights:

• All-time record Honda Division sales of 1,252,862 (up 5.1 percent)
• 12th consecutive annual sales increase
• Fourth consecutive year of record light-truck sales at 566,702 (up 15.7 percent)
• Record full-year sales of Pilot, CR-V, Civic Hybrid and Odyssey
• Best sales month ever for Pilot and Ridgeline

With record sales of the RL, TL and TSX luxury performance sedans, the Acura Division posted a new all-time record result for the full calendar year. In 2005, Acura sales in 2005 rose 5.7 percent over last year's record to 209,610 cars and SUVs, breaking the 200,000-unit mark for the first time. Acura posted record December sales for TSX and TL.