Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s HMC worldwide production volume for Jul 2015 was 389,270 units, up 7.1% from the figure recorded in Jul 2014. The production volume was a record for the month of July. Production outside Japan increased 17.7% to 328,026 units, which too was a record high for July. Meanwhile, production in Japan plunged 27.9% to 61,244 units in the month, marking the twelfth continuous month of decline.

The increase in production outside Japan resulted from a 19.7% rise in production in North America to 155,630 units, a record high for the month of July; a 26.2% rise in Europe to 12,661 units; a 14.8% rise in Asia to a July record of 147,572 units; and a 21.9% improvement in other regions to 12,163 units. Production in China reached an all-time monthly high of 92,771 units.

Sales in the Japanese market went down 15.4% year over year to 60,045 units in July. New vehicle registrations decreased 8.3% to 36,433 units. Mini vehicles’ sales fell 24.4% to 23,612 units.

The Honda Fit, which recorded sales of 11,466 units, was the third best-selling vehicle in the industry among new vehicle registrations (excluding mini vehicles) in Jul 2015. STEPWGN was the tenth top-selling vehicle, with sales of6,677 units.

Under the Mini vehicles category, N-BOX was the best-selling vehicle, with sales of 11,879 units. N-WGN was the eighth highest-selling vehicle in the industry, with sales of 6,059 units.

Exports from Japan surged 199.5% year over year to 8,248 units in July. This was the first month of increase in exports since February.

Honda currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked automobile stocks include Ford Motor Co. F, PACCAR Inc. PCAR and U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. PRTS, all carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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