Honda Motor Company posted a 61% increase in net profits to ¥71.5 billion yen or ~$883 million profits in the Japanese Q4 (January through March 2012) an increase from ¥44.5 billion a year earlier. However, operating income for the fiscal year (April 2011 through 31 March 2012) declined by 59.4% compared to the previous fiscal year and amounted to only ¥231.3 billion yen because of production interruptions caused by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.
Now that production has resumed, and the all important North American and Asian markets are recovering, Honda predicted record global vehicle sales of 4.3 million vehicles – up from 3.1 million – for this fiscal year and a profit of ¥ 470 billion.
The Japanese automaker continues to suffer from a strong yen, which cuts its overseas earnings with the dollar trading near ¥80 compared with ¥86 yen the previous year.
Honda plans for year-end cash dividends of ¥15 per share. Together with the quarterly cash dividends of J¥15 for the first, second and third fiscal quarters, the total cash dividends to be paid for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 are planned to be ¥60 per share, which is an increase of ¥6 per share from the annual dividends paid for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
