Honda’s China sales to catch up with its sales in the United States, says CEO

Honda’s sales in China are likely to catch up with its sales in the United States under two to three years and the company would like them to eventually overtake U.S. sales, the company’s CEO said on Friday.

Takahiro Hachigo provided his statement to a small group of reporters following the official opening of a new plant located in Wuhan.

Hachigo stated that the catch-up could happen “soon”, later clarifying to Reuters that he was talking about a two-to-three-year time period.

“We would like China sales to overtake the U.S.,” he stated, adding that the company did not anticipate U.S. sales to boost significantly.

Honda’s manufacturing capacity in China could be increased if necessary, he added.

Honda last year sold approximately 1.7 million vehicles in the United States and 1.4 million in China.