Honda eyes its '10 China sales up 10% to 632,200

Shanghai, February 10 (Gasgoo.com) Honda Motor said today it aims to sell at least 632,200 vehicles in China this year, up 10% from last year, though the growth rate will likely slow down after a surge in 2009, Reuters reported.

Honda Motor saw its 2009 sales in China grow 22.5% to 576,000 vehicles and aims for annual local production of 710,000 units in 2012, up from the current 610,000 units, industry officials said.

The Japanese car company 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.

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

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