AMERICAN HONDA SETS NEW 'LOW EMISSION VEHICLE' SALES RECORD

Jan. 29 -- American Honda broke its record for low emission vehicles sales in 2000, with a total of 980,647 Honda and Acura cars and light trucks that qualify as Low Emission Vehicles (LEV), Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) or Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV) -- representing 85 percent of all vehicles sold in calendar year 2000.

American Honda has forecast that 88 percent of its fleet will be LEV or better in 2001, including the Honda Accord, Civic, Odyssey, S2000 and Insight, and Acura TL, CL, RL, MDX and NSX. The Civic is the first mass-market vehicle to be sold exclusively as a ULEV nationwide. The Acura MDX sport utility vehicle also meets the ULEV standard. The 2000 Accord was the industry¡Çs first gasoline-powered SULEV vehicle.

A 'Low Emission Vehicle' (LEV) reduces reactive hydrocarbon emissions per mile driven by 70 percent compare with an average car or light truck; ULEV achieves an 84 percent reduction; SULEV reduces emissions by 96 percent.