Japanese auto giant Honda Motor Corp. reported a 19.9-percent surge in Chinese sales in 2005, Chinese Ministry of Commerce quoted sources with the company's local branch as saying.

Honda altogether sold 257,048 cars in China in 2005, with 230,768 cars from its joint-venture branch based in southern China's Guangzhou City, up 14.2 percent, and 26,244 from the branch located in central China's Hubei Province, up 150.6 percent year on year.

Honda is now cooperating with China's Guangzhou Motor Company to produce sedans branded Accord and Fit, and with China's Dongfeng Company in Hubei to produce SUV Honda CR-Vs.

In December 2005 alone, Honda sold 23,492 cars in China, down 12.9 percent. Meanwhile the Guangzhou Honda sold 20,347 cars, down 20.7 percent, and the Dongfeng Honda sold 3,145 cars, up 147.4 percent.

Source: Xinhua