Honda China July sales up 33.6% to 44,093 units

Honda Motor Co. (HMC) said Thursday its July vehicle sales in China increased 33.6% to 44,093 units from 33,006 units a year earlier.

Sales for the first seven months this year rose 23.1% to 270,835 units, from 219,997 a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said in a statement.

From January to July, Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co., Honda's 50-50 joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., sold 172,441 units, up 11.1% from 155,279 in the year-earlier period. Guangzhou Honda makes the Accord sedan and the Odyssey minivan, among others.

Sales at Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., a 50-50 venture with China's Dongfeng Motor Corp., rose 52% to 98,394 units in the first seven months this year, from 64,718 in the same period in 2007. Dongfeng Honda makes the sport-utility vehicle CR-V and the Civic sedan.