Honda's China sales drop 85% in February amid coronavirus crisis

Japanese automaker sees largest ever single-month decline

While Honda Motor has reopened about 80% of its sales outlets in China, demand for new cars remains sluggish. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)

TAKASHI KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer

March 6, 2020 18:45 JST

GUANGZHOU -- Japanese automaker Honda announced on Friday its car sales in China fell 85.1% in February, marking its largest ever single-month decline as the coronavirus epidemic hit business hard.

Many of Honda's sales outlets in China were forced to close in early February due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. As consumers have refrained from going out even after operations resumed, sales for automakers have not yet recovered.