The second largest automobile producer in Japan, Honda Motor, yesterday announced a profit of USD2, 87 billion during the fiscal year ended March 2009. This figure shows an increase 95.5 percent over the same period the previous year.
Honda says, 2009-2010 fiscal year performance indicates the increasing demand in line with economic recovery after the crisis of 2008 ago. Especially for the last quarter of fiscal year 2009 (January-March 2010) Honda’s profit reached 72.1 billion yen (USD770 million), far better than the same period the previous year who lose 180 billion yen.
“Revenues rose 27.8 percent last quarter on an annual basis to 2.2 trillion yen, driven by 28.5 percent sales growth,” said Honda in Tokyo as quoted from Reuters, Thursday (04/29/2010).
In fiscal year 2010-2011 Honda estimates that their sales reached 3.65 million units, an increase of 6.6 percent over the previous year. Target was set after seeing the improvement in the market in the United States (U.S.) and developing countries including China.
Meanwhile, U.S. automobile manufacturer of the Ford Motor Co. reported profit booked $ 2, 1 billion in quarter I-2010. Quarterly performance since January-March was better than previously thought, so grow optmisme Ford overcoming this year.
Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said first-quarter results show that producers have been doing business turnover and run it well.
“The machine has the basic drivers of our business products, market share, and cost structure with a stronger performance in every quarter,” Mulally said in a teleconference in Detroit.
The success of Ford recorded a gain on sale of units supported by the Volvo in Sweden to China manufacturer, Geely Automobile worth USD1, 8 billion. Ford also received a blessing from the improved public perception of a manufacturer that was founded by Henry Ford had managed to deal with the financial crisis without government assistance such as General Motors (GM) and Chryslers.
Until Monday this week, Ford’s U.S. market share increased to 47 percent since the beginning of 2010, up nearly three times bigger than last year. “With only just saw the numbers, I judge they had a fantastic quarter. But it will not be easy to get to compete in North America,” said Morningstar analyst David Whiston.
In the first quarter-2010 Ford succeeded to record sales increase by 38 percent, up two times higher than the overall growth in car sales. While its market share increased to 16.8 percent, compared to the same period in 2009 that only 14.1 percent.
Increasing the performance of the first quarter-2010 pushing Ford to increase sales projection to 12.5 million units from 11.5 million units, including the previous variant medium sedan and truck.
“Especially in North America in the second quarter we will increase the production of 625 thousand units of vehicle or up 38 percent compared to last year,” said Ford.
Meanwhile, in a car exhibition in Beijing, China, organizers said it has sold more than 30 units of super luxury cars valued at 150 million yuan (USD21, 9 million).
Among the luxury cars were sold in the event that dibanderol Bugatti Veyron sports worth 40 million yuan. Type is one of 300 units made worldwide limited.
Other manufacturers who sold luxury cars in the exhibit is Maserati. According to Gao Mengxiong Maserati Sales Director, The Italian manufacturer has received orders for 15 units on the first day the exhibition opened to the public yesterday. The amount is equivalent to 375 million yuan.
“Maserati Sales in China increased by 50-80 percent during the first quarter-2010. Buyers on average 35-40 years of age or 10-15 years younger than the Maserati owner in another country, “he said.
In addition, other luxury cars sold in the exhibition is the Lamborghini LP670-4 SV series three units worth 7.6 million yuan, LM85 Spyker and Aston Martin’s latest model