Honda H1 China sales double to 226,742 units

JAPAN'S Honda Motor Corp said sales in China more than doubled in the first half of 2008 despite a slowdown in the overall market which was hurt by record high oil prices.

Half-year sales totaled 226,742 units for Japan's second biggest car-maker in China, an increase of 121.3 percent year on year.

Honda delivered a combined 33,549 vehicles in the world's second largest auto market in June, compared with 36,139 units from the same period last year, the firm said in a statement yesterday.

The sales are buoyed by its popular new Accord sedan as well as its CR-V sport utility vehicle, which sold 73,694 units and 39,053 units respectively over the past six months.

Honda has two joint ventures in China in partnership with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co and Dongfeng Motor Corp. It produces Accord, Odyssey, City, Fit in addition to CR-V and Civic in China.