Honda has taken the top position in South Africa's flourishing motorcycle and quad market with 8310 sales during 2005 - 19.9 percent of the total.

The brand grew by 54 percent over 2004 while total

Worldwide, Honda cemented its longstanding leadership by increasing its 2004 production by 16 percent to 12.5-million units - about a third of estimated world sales of all makes.

Honda expects this figure to rise again in 2006 as new plants come on line in Asia to attack the commuter market there

In Europe and North America, Honda intends unveiling revolutionary technology, including a crash bag on Gold Wing models

Hiroaki Shibata, MD of Honda SA, commented: "We’re exceptionally pleased to have moved into the No.1 slot. It's been a lot of hard work and for the first few years our focus was largely on getting the infrastructure in place.

"Since then our dealers, supported by an excellent and keenly priced model range, has carried us forward. In fact Honda has been the No.1 seller in the two-wheel segment in this country for the past two years and that has been the foundation on which sales success has been built."

Superbike sales are strong and Honda dominates the important 125cc market with a range of road and off-road machines for the younger market.

Competitively priced and user-friendly four-stroke ATVs have also enabled Honda to enjoy conquest sales and introducing newcomers to the activity.


Growth in the segment has allowed Honda SA to capture the overall No.1 position. "We don’t intend to rest on our laurels," Shibata added. "We have some ambitious plans to make sure we stay out front."

These plans include a new CBR1000RR Fireblade for the litre superbike class, a bold new strategy to tap the commuter market and plans to reignite Honda’s involvement in off-road motorsport.