May 2017: American Honda Motor Co.

[William Maley]

American Honda Cars and Trucks Continue Strong Balanced Sales in May

Jun 1, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Honda HR-V sets new all-time monthly record in May, jumping 29 percent
• Honda CR-V exceeds 32,000 sales for the month to post a 9.6 percent increase
• Accord and Civic join CR-V, with each posting more than 31,000 sales for the month
• Acura TLX sales increase 8.4 percent in May after record April sales
• Acura RDX sales gain 12.8 percent in May, pushing Acura trucks to a 7.8 percent rise

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported total May sales of 148,414 Honda and Acura vehicles, an increase of 0.9 percent over May 2016. Honda Division rose 0.7 percent on sales of 134,475 units, with trucks up 5.6 percent on sales of 63,650, and cars down 3.4 percent on sales of 70,825. Acura Division sales were up 2.8 percent in May, on sales of 13,939 vehicles, with trucks increasing 7.8 percent on sales of 9,456, and cars down 6.4 percent on sales of 4,483 units.

Honda
Honda is the only full-line brand experiencing sales growth thus far in 2017, with good reason: Civic and Accord are #1 and 2 in car sales for the year, with each exceeding 31,000 units in May, while HR-V and CR-V are off to a record start on the truck side. HR-V set a new all-time monthly record in May. Civic, Accord and CR-V again topped 30,000 units in May – seeking to top a combined annual total surpassing a million units for the 5th straight year. The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is exceeding expectations as it opens new ground in the emerging fuel cell vehicle market.

• Sales of the 10th generation Honda Civic have now exceeded 500,000 units in just the 19 months since the current model went on sale in November 2015. With more than 31,000 sales in May, Civic continues as the best-selling passenger car in America on a retail basis thus far in 2017. 
• Accord posted a stellar month, bucking the light truck trend with an increase of 5.0 percent on sales of 33,547 to lead Honda car sales in May.
• HR-V celebrated taking sales leadership in the subcompact SUV segment by setting a new all-time sales record in May, with a gain of 29 percent on sales of 9,533 units.
• CR-V gained 9.6 percent for the month on sales of 32,186, further cementing its SUV sales leadership in 2017.

"Honda is challenging convention demonstrating sales strength on both sides of the aisle in 2017, with Civic and Accord leading retail car sales while HR-V and CR-V set new records," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "Things are about to get even more exciting with the Civic Si now on sale, and the upcoming Type R providing evidence that the market still hungers for exciting, yet affordable cars."

Acura
Acura continues to show renewed momentum in the second quarter as TLX—the brand's best selling sedan—gained ground again in May after a record-setting April. Sales of Acura's sporty RDX also surged in May, joined by strong sales of MDX to push Acura trucks ahead of last year. Overall, the Acura division showed an increase of 2.8 percent on sales of 13,939 vehicles. 

• TLX gained 8.4 percent in May on sales of 3,508 units, creating momentum for the refreshed 2018 TLX hitting dealer showrooms across the U.S. today. 
• RDX enjoyed another strong month in a very competitive segment, rising 12.8 percent on sales of 5,149 in May.
• MDX sales were up 2.4 percent in May with 4,307 units sold, just as the company began dual sourcing production for the MDX at the company's East Liberty Plant in Ohio.
• Acura trucks were up 7.8 percent overall on sales of 9,456 units.

"With a perfect sense of timing, the redesigned 2018 Acura TLX starts sales today just as the outgoing TLX is enjoying some of its best months," said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of the Acura division. "Coupled with the recently launched MDX Sport Hybrid, the Acura brand is building renewed energy through the brand's distinctive performance direction."

[A Horse With No Name]

Really in some ways some pretty brutal numbers for Honda if you look closely.