Honda Cuts U.S. Sales Goal, Predicts Full-Year Drop

Honda Motor Co., Japan's second- largest automaker, cut its 2008 U.S. sales forecast by 4.1 percent because of the faltering economy, predicting the first decline in the country in 15 years. The company expects to sell 1.51 million vehicles for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, compared with its earlier estimate of 1.575 million vehicles, Chief Financial Officer Yoichi Hojo said in an interview in Tokyo today. The sales decline will be 2.6 percent from 1.55 million vehicles in 2007.