Hoping to spur the auto industry to adopt a greater competitive spirit in addressing the issue of global climate change, Honda (http://www.honda.com) has adopted “Racing to Green Mobility” as the theme for the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress. Honda is the host company for the 2009 World Congress, to be held April 20-23, 2009 at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Honda is also pleased to welcome Bosch Group to the important role as the Tier 1 Strategic partner for the 2009 SAE World Congress. Bosch will provide support and resources to Honda and SAE throughout the planning and execution process, as well as engaging actively on-site during the Congress.

“Racing to Green Mobility is a challenge to the industry and to each of us as individual engineers to act and take responsibility for a goal we all share - ensuring the survival of our planet,” said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and the chairman of the 2009 World Congress. “Through SAE the entire industry can work together even as we compete against one another to address our common goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.”

“Racing to Green Mobility” is a theme intended to make the 2009 SAE World Congress an important platform for the world’s automotive engineers to share their best thinking and to encourage one another to create new technologies and products to help realize a greener and more sustainable future for our industry and society.

“We are pleased to welcome Bosch, a company dedicated to innovation, as our Tier 1 Strategic Partner in the race to green mobility,” said Kato.

Honda is hoping to help boost the 2009 World Congress by encouraging the presentation of more technical papers and booths at the event. Honda revealed that it plans to present more than 50 technical papers at next year’s World Congress, many related to the advancement of Honda environmental technologies.

Honda is globally committed to minimizing air emissions from its products and factories. Honda is working to achieve its goals by reducing CO2 emissions by improving the energy efficiency of Honda manufacturing plants and by improving the fuel efficiency of its automobile, powersports and power equipment products. Honda’s legacy of environmental leadership includes a long list of industry firsts, including the world's first low-emission vehicles, America's first gasoline-electric hybrid car, and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. In 2007, Honda was named the "Greenest Automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth consecutive time.

About the SAE World Congress

SAE International has more than 90,000 members, including engineers, business executives, government officials, educators, and students from more than 97 countries, creating a forum for the sharing of information and exchange of ideas for advancing the engineering of mobility systems. In its 76th year, the SAE World Congress offers the most comprehensive technical program within the global automotive industry and serves as a unique platform for the exchange of ideas among the world’s automotive engineering community.

About Honda

Honda (NYSE:HMC) began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. production in Ohio in 1979, and began U.S. automobile production in 1982 at its Marysville, Ohio, auto plant. The company has invested more than $10.6 billion in its North America operations, including 14 major manufacturing facilities employing more than 35,000 associates and producing more than 4 million products annually, including more than 1.4 million Honda and Acura automobiles as well as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, lawn mowers, general-purpose engines and other power equipment products. Honda currently partners with more than 600 North American suppliers and on a global basis purchased more than $18.8 billion in parts and materials from North American suppliers last year.

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