Honda Acura sales in China to double this year

Shanghai, September 25 (Gasgoo.com) Based on its good performance and strong confidence in the Chinese market, Honda Motor (China) Investment Corp expects to see the sales of its Acura model more than double in 2008 up to 3,000 units from last year's 1402 units, said xinhuanet.com today.

The Honda Acura is a newcomer to the China's luxury car market and has to boost its brand recognition here. Currently, three Acura models are available in the China market, priced between 400,000 yuan ($58,500) and 700,000 yuan. In China, Acura sold 1,402 units in 2007 and 1,350 units in the first half of 2008, with the Acura MDX, as luxury SUV, as the bestseller (976 units sold last year).

Honda China originally planned to sell 2,500 units of Acura in 2008, but the remarkable sales growth in the first half indicates that the Acura sales forecast can be raised to somewhere between 2,800 units and 3,000 units -- its sales this year is sure to more than double over last year.    

The 2009 Acura MDX, a mid-size crossover SUV, went on sale in China two weeks ago. Later this month, the 2009 Acura RL sport sedan will also hit the Chinese market.

There are nine Acura dealers now in China's mainland and the number will increase to nearly 30 by the end of this year and to 50 by 2010.