Honda Canada Reports Annual Sales Results

December Sales Increase by 17 Per Cent

TORONTO , Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Combined December sales of 12,363 units by the Honda and Acura divisions represented a 17% increase over last year. The Honda Automobile Division reported December sales of 10,830 units, up 21% from last year, strengthened by sales of Civic that were up 50% and record sales of Fit, up 112% for the month. The Acura Division reported December sales of 1,533 units, down 4% from last year.

Honda Canada Inc. reported combined annual sales of 140,006 units by its Honda and Acura divisions for calendar year 2009 - an 18% decline over 2008.

"We are very pleased to see consumer confidence improving slowly but surely," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc., "and this is reflected in the overall market results. We expect that this optimism will continue into the first quarter of 2010.

"December marks the end of a very challenging year for both Canadian consumers and our Honda and Acura dealer networks. We thank them all for their continued support and trust in our products, and our hope is for a safe and prosperous new year for all Canadians. Finally, we thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who honoured the Honda Civic by making it Canada's top-selling car for the 12th year in a row."

Honda Canada Inc. has sold approximately 3,300,000 Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada over the past 37 years. More than half of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2009 were made in Canada , including Canada's top-selling car Honda Civic, and the Acura MDX, CSX and the all-new ZDX.

For further information: Richard Jacobs, [phone]