January 28, 2009

FHI Announces Results for December 2008 and CY 2008 (flash report)

·Production

		December 2008		Calender Year 2008
		units	08 vs. 07	units	08 vs. 07
Domestic production*1	Passenger cars	29,112	115.1%	399,136	117.5%
	Mini cars	8,834	84.3%	125,780	92.4%
	Total	37,946	106.1%	524,916	110.3%
Overseas Production*2	Passenger cars	4,783	63.4%	91,581	83.9%
Total		42,729	98.6%	616,497	105.4%

*1.JAMA(Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc.) report basis(CBU)
*2.Local line-off basis

·	<December> The domestic production for December increased first in two months year-on-year, due to the strong sales of Forester. The total global production decreased for the second consecutive month year-on-year, due to decreased overseas production.

·	<CY 2008> The global production for the period January through December increased year-on-year for the first time in two years, due to the strong sales of Forester which was launched at the end of 2007,and additional sales of Exiga launched in the middle of 2008.

·Sales in Japan

	December 2008		Calender Year 2008
	units	08 vs 07	units	08 vs 07
Passenger cars*1	6,022	85.8%	85,050	100.3%
Mini cars*2	7,238	70.9%	121,693	86.3%
Total	13,260	77.0%	206,743	91.6%

*1.Excludes commercial vehicles *2.Includes mini trucks

·	<December> Total domestic sales for December decreased for the 11th consecutive month year-on-year.

·	<CY 2008> Passenger cars increased for the first time in five years due to the strong sales of Forester which was launched at the end of 2007, and additional sales of Exiga and DEX launched in June and October respectively this year.

·Exports*1

	December 2008		Calender Year 2008
	units	08 vs 07	units	08 vs 07
Total CBU units	29,176	144.2%	326,492	130.3%

*1.JAMA report basis

·	<December> Total exports from Japan in December increased for the forth consecutive month year-on-year, due mainly to the strong sales of Forester in global markets and Impreza in North America.

·	<CY 2008> Total CY 2008 exports experienced 8th consecutive year of increase and marked a record high in history, due to increased exports of Forester to global markets and Legacy Diesel model to Europe.