Honda China output more than doubled in Apr-Sept

Honda Motor Co, Japan's second-largest automaker, said its output in China surged 116.9% from a year earlier to hit an all-time high of 267,393 units in the first half of fiscal year 2008 (from April to September), according to Hongda's statement posted on its website.

The automaker produced 50,580 vehicles in September in China, representing a year-on-year rise of 106.6%. Over the first nine months this year, its output in China soared 120.4% over the same period of last year, to hit 394,647 units.

However, it didn't provide the output figures of its 50-50 joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile and another 50-50 venture with Dongfeng Motor, which mainly produces the Accord and Odyssey minivan, and the sport-utility vehicle CR-V and the Civic sedan, respectively.

The Japanese automaker said in an earlier statement that it sold a total of 356,258 vehicles in China in the first nine months, up 19.7% compared with 297,534 units a year ago, with sales of Guangzhou Honda up 10.3% to 229,746 units and that of Dongfeng Honda up 41.7% to 126,512 units.