Honda sales soar

TOKYO: Sales of Honda cars in the ASEAN region soared to 91,000 units last year -- an increase of 51 percent over the 1995 total.

According to executives from the Japanese carmaker, much of this growth was on the back of the new City sedan, which made its debut in the seven ASEAN countries over the course of last year.

Such was the success of the City in the Philippines that it was the top selling passenger car in the market.

Honda expects this growth in the region to continue with passenger car sales increasing a further 17 percent this year to 106,000 units.