06/01/2007 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

Record May sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., increased to 145,367, up from 141,810 in 2006, breaking the previous May record set in 2004, the company announced today. The Honda Division posted record May sales of 129,447, up from May 2006 results of 125,639.

With one additional selling day in May 2007, the daily selling rate* (DSR) percentage change represents a 1.4 percent decline for American Honda and a 0.9 percent decline for Honda Division. Year-to-date American Honda sales increased to 625,994, up 1.0 percent.

Honda Division's new May record was bolstered by all-time record sales of the compact Civic and subcompact Fit and a new May record for the CR-V crossover SUV - the best-selling SUV in the U.S. Civic sales of 39,993, up 32.6 percent for the month, shattered an all-time record of 36,533 set in August 2001. Civic Hybrid sales of 4,520, up 50.4 percent, also broke the all-time record of 4,146 set in August 2005. Record May CR-V sales increased by 35.9 percent to 19,513. Fit results of 5,361 achieved a new all-time record.

"Small is big right now," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "Smaller vehicles have become more attractive for multiple reasons and we expect this trend to continue for the time being."

Additional large volume Honda Division products for May include the Accord, 31,915; Odyssey, 15,235; and Pilot, 10,133. Ridgeline and Element volume respectively totaled 3,600 and 3,187. Year-to-date, Honda Division sales of 551,220 are up 2.5 percent with total car sales increasing by 3.9 percent and light truck sales increasing by 0.7 percent on a DSR basis.

Acura Division sales totaled 15,920. The recent introductions of the completely redesigned MDX luxury SUV and all-new RDX crossover SUV pushed Acura light truck sales up 82.6 percent to 6,635. The MDX posted strong May sales of 4,623, up 27.2 percent versus last year and up 7.1 percent for the year on a DSR basis.

*The daily selling rate is calculated with 26 days for May 2007, versus 25 for 2006.

For more information about Honda vehicles, please visit www.honda.com. For media inquiries, please go to www.hondanews.com.For more information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com. For media inquiries, please go to www.acuranews.com.

The raw numbers are here:

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1090/releases/3985

Element sales down 25% year to date. YIKES!!

That's a great chart - thanks for putting it together.

It looks like we may all be driving a collector's item soon enough......

they need to bring back the plastic panels! what were they thinking!

they need to bring back the plastic panels! what were they thinking!

Does that big October to January drop coincide with the availability of plastic panels? My brain is fuzzy, I don't pay much attention to the new models... was it last fall they completely stopped selling new E's with unpainted panels?

Edit... it seems to me like that had a core group of us utilitarians, and then added some extra people with the painted panels and SC editions... then it looks like the core group completely dropped off with the end of the unpainted panels.

they need to bring back the plastic panels! what were they thinking!


I thought all of the fender panels were plastic on all models?

I thought all of the fender panels were plastic on all models?

They are still are only plastic....painted plastic...but still plastic.

Does that big October to January drop coincide with the availability of plastic panels? My brain is fuzzy, I don't pay much attention to the new models... was it last fall they completely stopped selling new E's with unpainted panels?

Edit... it seems to me like that had a core group of us utilitarians, and then added some extra people with the painted panels and SC editions... then it looks like the core group completely dropped off with the end of the unpainted panels.

October is when the 2007 came out and with only a fully painted Element. When i said bring back the plastic panels I meant unpainted plastic panels like the 2003 to 2006 models. Buyers had the option in 2006 for either painted or unpainted models.

October is when the 2007 came out and with only a fully painted Element. When i said bring back the plastic panels I meant unpainted plastic panels like the 2003 to 2006 models. Buyers had the option in 2006 for either painted or unpainted models.

I knew what you meant (I'd used the unpainted and plastic interchangeably myself).

But then it's not a coincidence that sales dropped like a rock in October to January. They really forgot their core audience... the utilitarian nature of the car disappeared, prices rose, and they lost customers. Why is it so obvious to us when they spend millions on market research?

October is when the 2007 came out and with only a fully painted Element. When i said bring back the plastic panels I meant unpainted plastic panels like the 2003 to 2006 models. Buyers had the option in 2006 for either painted or unpainted models.

Interesting. Are you saying that the 2007 LX doesn't not have the unpainted panels? I haven't had the need to go back and look at '07s but the Honda website shows the LX with unpainted panels.

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_descriptions.asp?ModelName=Element&Category=2WD+LX

Also consider that only 2 Honda models (Civic & CRV) had sales increases and all other models showed a decrease.

Seems like the SC and the CRV are pretty similar to the average buyer. With the new CRV being (from what I hear) so great, I think that would be tough on SC sales. And, really, with the painted panels, every E is a lot more like a CRV to me. I liked the unpainted panels because it made the E different. Also, the Rav4 was redesigned, and the FJ came out. So it seems like the E has a lot more competition vs back in 2003, and not as much to set it apart. I'm just rambling. Sorry...

Interesting. Are you saying that the 2007 LX doesn't not have the unpainted panels? I haven't had the need to go back and look at '07s but the Honda website shows the LX with unpainted panels.

http://automobiles.honda.com/models/specifications_descriptions.asp?ModelName=Element&Category=2WD+LX

Also consider that only 2 Honda models (Civic & CRV) had sales increases and all other models showed a decrease.

Sorry, you are correct on the LX, I myself dont even consider it a choice since it iis bare bones(sorry to all the LX owners thats JMO) and I would have to think the EX is the main model purchased by far. All i have to say is it surely wont hurt to offer the unpainted panels again on the EX model. Thats just my 2 cents.

I had my E in for service and ran into my sales rep. He verified that E sales are dropping fast. Not just the sales but people coming in to test drive them. This particular dealership only keeps one E (an SC) on the lot now. He said that until this year they kept 5-10. They had a sales meeting recently that suggested the E will be dropped in favor of the '08 or '09 crossover. Unfortunately I forgot the name he threw out. He said most of the test drives are for the CRV, Fit and Odyssey.

I would have to think the EX is the main model purchased by far.

Problem is that we don't know what models are the most popular. IMHO, the EX is just an overpriced model with options that are mostly useless and could be replaced by better and cheaper aftermarket replacements.... no offense to EX owners :)

I had my E in for service and ran into my sales rep. He verified that E sales are dropping fast. Not just the sales but people coming in to test drive them. This particular dealership only keeps one E (an SC) on the lot now. He said that until this year they kept 5-10. They had a sales meeting recently that suggested the E will be dropped in favor of the '08 or '09 crossover. Unfortunately I forgot the name he threw out. He said most of the test drives are for the CRV, Fit and Odyssey.

Could they be replacing it with the Crossroad? I hope the replacement has the ability to stand up a couple of mountain bikes in it.

The LX does still offer the unpainted panels but the vast majority of customers want EXs! I'll be talking to the product planner at the national meet about this and offering a beefed up, swiss army knife, 'safari' edition. ;-)

3000 units a month does not make for product line longevity when it comes to Honda.

The new xB is probubly influencing sales also

Could they be replacing it with the Crossroad

Negative. Element is the Element.

The Crossroad is not a US model, it is a Japan only model. The Element will be redone for 2009 with many if not most of the features we've come to know and love staying.

Suicide doors
Waterproof seat material
rear sunroof
removable rear seats
folding rear seats
seating for 4, they are still looking at a 5th in the middleI suggested they offer the unpainted panels as an option, or as something that can be purchased cheaply at the dealer. I also suggested they don't put carpet in the Element except for the SC (if that model survives).

Sounds as though some sort of non-gasoline option will be offered though it might not be for 2009. Diesel or something else could be offered after for 2010 or after.