Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Total Honda Civic Series Production Reaches 15 Million Units Milestone

Torrance, Calif. 04/01/2003 -- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that as of March 2003, worldwide cumulative production of the Honda Civic series reached 15 million units.
The Civic has been one of Honda's key models since it was released as a small, front wheel-drive, fuel-efficient model in July 1972. Its superior driving performance, fuel economy, safety and environmental performance, together with its spacious interior, have contributed to its favorable reception in car markets around the world. The Civic is currently sold in approximately 160 countries and has been Honda's best-selling vehicle on a global basis for more than 20 years.

The Civic, in its seventh generation, has become known for introducing new advanced technologies to the marketplace. Among these technologies were the low emission CVCC engine, the first engine to satisfy the standards of the original U.S. Clean Air Act without the use of a catalytic converter, the world's most stringent exhaust emissions standards at the time; the VTEC engine featuring variable valve timing and electronic lift control, which brought improved efficiency to the internal combustion engine; and the Honda Multi Matic S.

In June 1998, the Civic GX, Honda's natural gas vehicle, was added to the Civic lineup, and in December 2001 the Civic Hybrid made its debut. The Civic series continues to be highly regarded, as illustrated by the many awards it has consistently won both in Japan and overseas.

Honda started production of the Civic at its Suzuka factory in June 1972 and gradually expanded production worldwide, beginning with Indonesia in 1975. North American production of the Civic began in 1986 at the Marysville, Ohio manufacturing facility. At present, Honda produces approximately 600,000 Civics per year (based on 2002 figure) in a total of 11 countries including North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Country	Site	Production model
Japan	Suzuka factory	Civic 5 door, 4 door, Civic Hybrid
U.S.	Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (East Liberty Auto Plant)	Civic 4 door, 2 door, Civic GX
Canada	Honda Canada, Inc.	Civic 4 door
Brazil	Honda Automoveis do Brasil, Ltd.	Civic 4 door
U.K.	Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd.	Civic 5 door, 3 door
Turkey	Honda Turkey A.S	Civic 4 door
Thailand	Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd.	Civic 4 door
Malaysia	Honda Malaysia (Sdn) Bhd.	Civic 4 door
Indonesia	P.T. Honda Prospect Motor	Civic 4 door
Philippines	Honda Cars Philippines Inc.	Civic 4 door
Pakistan	Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd.	Civic 4 door