Honda China '09 sales up 22.5% to 576,223 units

Shanghai, January 8 (Gasgoo.com) Honda Motor said today that its sales in China last year rose 22.5% to 576,223 units from 470,458 units in 2008, Dow Jones reported.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement that its China sales in December hit 59,002 units, up 42.3% from 41,471 units a year earlier.

Its City subcompact car posted especially strong sales, almost doubling to 113,227 units in 2009 from 56,955 units in the previous year.

Honda makes vehicles in China with Guangzhou Auto and Dongfeng Motor Group. Dongfeng Honda in Wuhan, Hubei province, likely sold about 200,000 vehicles last year, and its sales may exceed the plant's maximum capacity this year.

To expand its production capacity in China, Honda plans to build a new plant in the world largest auto market to keep up with surging demand. The 100,000-unit new plant in Wuhan could begin production by the end of 2011.

In addition to its manufacturing base in Wuhan, Honda operates two final vehicle-assembly plants in Guangzhou. Those plants of Guangzhou Honda have combined capacity to produce 360,000 cars a year.