Honda Reports Q4 2011-2012 Results

Honda set a new record for most motorcycles sold in any quarter over the first three months of 2012.

The Japanese manufacturer sold 3.456 million motorcycles over the quarter ended March 31, 2012, capping off its 2011-2012 fiscal year. By comparison, Honda sold just 2.934 million units over the same quarter last year. Figures include motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.

Asia accounted for 2.741 million units, thanks to increased demand for the Activa and Shine in India, the Vision, Air Blade and Wave in Vietnam, and the Click 125i and Wave110-i in Thailand.

North American sales were up over the quarter, with Honda selling 53,000 units, a 39.5% increase from 38,000 units sold in the same quarter last year. Honda cited strong performance from its entry-level CBR250R, Shadow cruiser, its Ruckus and PCX scooters, as well as the CBR1000RR sportbike.

For the year, Honda sold 12.559 million motorcycles from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. That represents a 9.7% increase from the 11.445 million units sold in the previous year. North American sales were up 8.1% over the fiscal year, with consumers buying 200,000 units.

Motorcycles accounted for 1.349 trillion yen (US$16.766 billion) in net sales, up 4.7% from the previous fiscal year. Despite the gains from its motorcycle business, Honda took a hit in its automobile and power product businesses, in large part because of decreased car production because of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and flooding in Thailand.

Overall, Honda reported a net profit of 211.4 billion yen (US$2.627 billion), down from 534.0 billion yen (US$6.637 billion) from the previous fiscal year.

[Source: Honda]

By Dennis Chung