Honda Sales Up 9.5% for March, Acura Sales Drop by 6.5%

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted the third-best month in history with record March sales of 143,392 Honda and Acura vehicles, a 7.3 percent daily selling rate* increase compared to March, 2006, the company reported today.

March also saw record American Honda sales in both car and light-truck segments with car sales surpassing the March 1996 record of 80,117. Year-to-date American Honda total vehicle sales of 354,208 increased 3.3 percent.

"We are on track for another record year in 2007," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "The continued sales success of Honda light trucks and cars in this period of ever-increasing fuel prices shows the high consumer awareness of our excellent fuel economy across the entire product line."

The Honda Division posted its best ever March with sales of 126,406 cars and light trucks, an increase of 9.5 percent over year-ago results. Record March Accord sales of 36,506 reflect an 18.8-percent increase.

CR-V sales of 19,658 rose 49.2 percent, helping the division post record March sales of 55,550 trucks, up 2.8 percent over year-ago results. The Pilot also posted record-March sales of 14,339, an increase of 6.6 percent over March, 2006.

Honda sold a total of 3,199 hybrid vehicles, including 2,813 Civic Hybrids and 385 Accord Hybrids, a combined increase of 6.7 percent over year-ago results.

The Acura Division posted strong March sales of 16,986, with record combined light truck sales of the completely redesigned and all new RDX SUV's. The TL luxury performance sedan was Acura's best-selling model with March sales of 5,769 while the TSX posted near-record sales of 3,232.

Terminal10 - 4/3/2007 4:34:07 PM

+3 Boost

Acura needs more attention by an outsider who can come in and sharpen this side of Honda up.

valentino - 4/3/2007 4:58:43 PM

+2 Boost

I'm from europe and I drive a honda civic type r.
I have a question for any carnut who lives in the US.
Do you see more Honda's or Acura's over there, because acura doesn't exist here, except for some idiots who replace their honda logo on their civic or accord :-D.
I'm just curious..

Terminal10 - 4/3/2007 5:03:54 PM

+1 Boost

Mostly Hondas I see Acuras but they are usually TL's.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2007 5:12:55 PM

-1 Boost

Hondas. Acura is the "luxury" division of Honda-- therefore, less people can afford their higher prices.

flozel1 - 4/3/2007 8:24:22 PM

-1 Boost

I think you'd be really happy if you can just get yourself one of those things they call "a brain".

GW18fan - 4/4/2007 12:51:00 AM

+3 Boost

I sell Hondas and I had a great month in March and it's true that I see alot more Hondas on the road here than Acuras. The Acura is a great vehicle but it is more expensive than the Honda. The Honda is every bit as good as far as dependability and reliability as the Acura so why spend more I suppose.

TruenoAE86 - 4/4/2007 2:55:35 AM

-2 Boost

The TL's exterior is horrible. No wonder it's only sold here, and not anywhere else.

no1listensanyway - 4/3/2007 5:34:46 PM

0 Boost

The CRV and Accord saved them this month. Acura sold a pitiful 719 RL's. Ouch. BTW, I like how Honda doesnt include the percent change on new models and outgoing models, it keeps the numbers honest.

MercBasher - 4/3/2007 6:03:06 PM

+2 Boost

CRV sales are on fire - did you know that in the US the Honda CRV, by itself, outsold all the VW brand models combined in March [yes including the Jetta, Passat, Rabbit, SUVs, Beetle etc. etc.] - I am damn impressed.

aznstuart - 4/3/2007 8:23:37 PM

-1 Boost

Best selling SUV in America so far!

TruenoAE86 - 4/4/2007 2:57:50 AM

+2 Boost

Though I just bashed the TL, the TSX's got a very good looking exterior. You can really see the drastic difference between an Europe based Honda, and an American based Honda.

XYZZ - 4/4/2007 5:54:31 AM

+3 Boost

yes. it's a shame, considering honda beat toyota and nissan to market with a premium brand.

imho, Acura also lost ground when it replaced the REAL names (Legend, Integra) with meaningless alphabet soup names. NO ONE except honda/acura fans would EVEN BOTHER to decipher them or keep them straight.

just because other brands have gone down that low road, doesn't mean it'll work for everyone. you listening, Lincoln?

it ONLY WORKS when the vehicles themselves are distinctive enuff that people BOTHER to learn the alphanumeric gibberish.

XYZZ - 4/4/2007 5:56:21 AM

+3 Boost

for NON-distinctive cars, it's the first step to anonymity, obscurity, and the dustbin.

valentino - 4/4/2007 6:02:18 AM

+3 Boost

O now I see.
In europe it's all different. We only have honda,toyota,nissan and lexus.
Lexus is still pretty rare here because BMW,Audi and Merc are the top selling brands.
There are no acura's here but we do have a couple of infinity's fx35 but they are imported so they are even more rare than a ferrari here :-).
I don't know anything about honda/acura in the us but i do know that you guys have an accord coupé wich we don't :-(
Anyway all my friends drive BMW and Audi like the true europeans they are, but I like my civic type R very very much, and they do too because it's totally different from their cars :-)

thanks alot for the explanation!

DallasMR2 - 4/4/2007 10:10:42 PM

0 Boost

formula1 you are an absolute idiot!

what acura model is the Honda Jazz? the Civic? the CR-V? the HR-V? the ONLY model Acura imports from Honda UK/EU is the TSX.

why don't you do some reading prior to spewing useless misinformation.

DallasMR2 - 4/4/2007 10:12:40 PM

0 Boost

and i forgot the Legend.

valentino - 4/4/2007 9:20:55 AM

+2 Boost

Ok now I understand.
So my car has never been sold in the US?

no1listensanyway - 4/4/2007 6:16:01 PM

+1 Boost

Just check out the Honda and Acura websites.

TL4KEL - 4/4/2007 11:31:48 AM

+1 Boost

Let me ask this to all of you commenting on how terrible Honda/Acura is in the US. THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN BOTHERING READING THIS ARTICLE AND TAKING TIME TO POST COMMENTS? My goodness...

I have driven Honda's since '94 and more than likely will continue to be a loyal customer. I currently drive an '05 Acura TL w/navi - some may say it's just a dressed up Accord and a $10,000 difference. I can tell you first hand that it may have the same chassis, but the TL is far more superior than my previous '04 Accord Coupe MT V6 w/navi(rare)in all aspects. There are many positive differences with Acura - that is why it is a "luxury" brand and not the same ole Accord that I see every 100 ft. of driving. IMO - most likely the people who are bashing Acura can't afford them and by doing so are some how making themselves "feel better". Sure - I could go bash BMW all freaking day long because I can't afford the M6 that I want. LOL.

Personally, I love my car and I'm enthusiastic about it; it's all about individual preference. As much as I am to Honda's - would I go back to an Accord. Doubt it.

TL4KEL - 4/4/2007 2:11:11 PM

+2 Boost

Formula1...
First of all...I am NOT clueless about cars just because I drive an Acura. So are you telling me that I should sue Honda for misleading the public in advertising Acura as a luxury brand? LOL. Not to mention that I am well aware of the European versions of Honda, etc. No need to tell the enthusiasts what they already know.

Would LOVE to know what you drive because it's obvious it's not a Honda? A Hyundai?

And lastly, just because there is currently not an Acura with rear-wheel drive doesn't mean it can't compete with others in its class. Yea, it has some torque steer - but you'll have this with 270 horses pulling the front of the car. And honestly - HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN A THIRD GEN. TL? I would hope so since you are making bold statements about the performance. Bad handling? Are you serious??? Have you actually read the professional reviews on this car?? Because I've read a few complaints about it not being RWD or AWD...but haven't read any "bad" reviews; and again, I drive it daily.

Lastly, how in the world can you say that Honda is a terrible car? Am I, along with millions of others, missing something? Is that why they sell so many cars that will run for years to come? Granted they don't have the good ole Hyundai 100,000 mile warranty - BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE THEY ARE RELIABLE. Oh - and did I also mention 'RESALE VALUE'?? :-)

I'm not trying to be rude in post; just trying to make a point that your opinion is not everyone elses and just because people have different views, doesn't necessarily make them ignorant to knowledge. Had you known I was a woman - you probably would have really doubted my knowledge.

no1listensanyway - 4/4/2007 6:24:09 PM

+2 Boost

Don't worry, we all know Hondas are great cars. Their sales alone speak for themselves. Europeans just have this inherent sense that they are better then everyone else. The Acura TL is a great car, I really wanted one because it is based on the TL. You can't deny that quality and reliability. I ended up with a CTS, a very good car with no problems. Just ignore those guys.

Lyall - 4/4/2007 2:47:04 PM

+2 Boost

to: TL4KEL.
Europeans typically are more snobbish and mean spirited than Americans. They equate American large heartedness and a welcoming spirit with- I'd rather not say it because it hurts to do so.
On the TL- it's an excellent car that can take on a 3 series on all but a few roads, and will spank its tail in rain/snow unless the 3er has an x in it. And I don't even own one but passed on a 3er for the G.
Too bad Europe ain't got G- anything to say formula1?

TL4KEL - 4/4/2007 3:27:51 PM

+2 Boost

Thanks Lyall!! :-)

TL4KEL - 4/4/2007 3:33:24 PM

+2 Boost

Lyall - Also wanted to mention that I really like the G and do believe it would put my TL to shame (more horsies and RWD to contend with). Have to admit that one!

The new G coupe is going to be very sweet....

valentino - 4/4/2007 5:06:33 PM

+1 Boost

I still don't know if my car was sold in the us :)

no1listensanyway - 4/4/2007 6:24:52 PM

+1 Boost

Check the websites...

DallasMR2 - 4/4/2007 10:16:01 PM

0 Boost

no, the Civic Type R is not sold in the US. we don't have a Civic Hatch anymore either. the only thing we have is a Civic Si, which has a similar motor but in a 2 door coupe.