Honda Motor Co picked up the largest share gain in the US auto market for the second straight month as Asian automakers' sales fell less than those of US rivals.
Industrywide sales in the world's biggest auto market fell 27 percent to 1.3 million cars and light trucks last month as incentives drew fewer buyers, according to Autodata Corp. Japanese and South Korean automakers raised their combined share 3.5 points to 31.1 percent as Asian sales slipped 18 percent and US automakers' sales fell by a third.
"Consumers have learned that the Japanese automakers especially give them a better value," said Van Bussmann, senior vice president of global forecasting at JD Power & Associates and a former Chrysler economist. "Buyers are going to them in droves."
Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, said US sales fell 5.8 percent to 103,256 as increased sales of light trucks softened the impact of slowing car sales. Honda's share of the US market rose 1.8 points to 7.9 percent. Its Honda division passed DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge unit as the fourth largest U.S. auto brand for the month. Truck sales rose 22 percent on added sales from the new Pilot sport-utility vehicle.
Toyota Motor Corp's share rose 0.9 points as US automakers' combined share fell 5 points to 62 percent
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