Honda of America issued a press release earlier this week announcing the company's highest ever July sales and highest year-to-date sales."Total American Honda vehicle sales of 129,872 set a new July record to help maintain a record year-to-date sales pace of 815,896 cars and light trucks, up 1.2 percent from 2003," the release states.
The Honda Division posted its third consecutive record month in July. In addition to the Odyssey having its best July ever, last month was the third best for sales of Odysseys ever, according to the press release.
In addition to having record July overall, the company's Honda and Accura divisions also had record months, and the Honda Pilot, which is manufactured in Lincoln, set an all-time sales record. The Honda Odyssey, also manufactured at the Lincoln plant, had a record July also, according to the press release.
According to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama spokesman Mark Morrison, "It is particularly good news that the vehicles being produced in Talladega County are still creating such strong demand. It's especially good for the Odyssey, since that is near the end of its model body style."
At the end of this month, the Lincoln facility will began manufacturing the 2005-model Odysseys, which will be the subject of a significant redesign. "Usually at this point, you would expect to see a decline in the old design, be we are very pleased to see the old design is still well received," Morrison said. "Especially in such a competitive market."
The design and several features of the new Odyssey will be changed in the 2005 model, but Morrison said he could not comment on specific changes yet. "But we're pretty excited about them," Morrison added.
Of course, the redesign will also hold some challenges, he said. "We have to make sure that the new model is as well received as the old one, and of course the hope is always that the dealers will need an awful lot of them to satisfy their customers."
"When you look at the associates working in this area, you can see the great pride they take in their work, and in meeting Honda's high quality standards," he continued. "And they can take a lot of direct responsibility for the success of these models and their high quality."
In the press release, Honda of America executive vice president Dick Colliver said, "The market continues to show a strong bias toward light trucks and luxury performance vehicles. Both Honda and Accura are well-positioned to meet the needs of today's customers in the most competitive environment yet in the automotive industry."
