Honda Vehicle Production 2020 - 2025 (Quarterly)

The data here is production, not deliveries. I would have preferred the latter but Honda only provides this level of detail for the former. 

Honda set out to be a top motorcycle manufacturer and  became the world's largest in 1959, having started in 1949. Having consolidated that position, it turned to passenger cars in 1963.

I believed that Honda also wanted to become the world's largest car manufacturer too. The company admitted some years back that would never be the case. 

I tried to find confirmation of that but can't, so either my memory is letting me down or AI isn't all it's cracked up to be. If anyone can confirm either way, please leave a comment. 

Anyway, in 2020 4.4 million vehicles were made, 37% of which were made in China. With the exception of 2023, it's been a case of reducing volume since. 

From 2020 to 2025, production numbers have fallen by 1 million units, nearly all of that in China (-963,000). China's contribution to the total has nearly halved in that time to just 20% and that trend will presumably continue. 

Honda forecast for a ¥550b profit for the year to ‌March 2026 but now anticipates losing up to ¥570 billion. It will be Honda's first annual loss since it listing on the stock market in 1957.  

In early 2025, talks exploring a merger / takeover between Honda and Nissan were abandoned. Honda wanted Nissan to be a subsidiary rather than a partner. I wonder if a partnership between them would be mutually beneficial? It now seems highly unlikely in any event. 

Data & photo source: Honda (Accord & Vezel/HR-V).

Mazda Deliveries 2019 - 2024 (Quarterly)

Mazda isn't a big player in Japan. It relies on export markets to be viable. In 2025, only 11.9% of deliveries were in Japan. 

In 2019, deliveries were at 1.498 million. They dropped 17% in the year 2000 and thereafter were around the 1.2 million mark. 

From 2019 to 2024, all regions have regressed except North America. Over this time, NA volume has increased by 52%! A third of all Mazda cars sold globally were in North America in 2024. 

Over this time period, deliveries to China has fallen 64% from 15.2% to just 6.4% of total Mazda sales. The contrast in changing fortunes compared to North America is dramatic.

Volume being supplied to Europe has fallen 40% in this time. All the gains in NA have been negated by all other reions of the world. 

So it can't be overemphasised how important North America has become to Mazda. It's not an ideal reliance as recent tariff threats show. I think the tariff rate at the time of writing is 15%,

Mazda has a working relationship with Toyota that is beneficial. They are called 'cooperative associations' or Kyoryoku Kai. There should be more of them in the car industry. 

Data & photo source: Mazda (CX-90 & MX-5). 

Romania Passenger Car Sales : 2026 (Jan-Mar)

Although March was up 5% YOY, for the three months it's down 19%. Share for 2025 is based on the complete year. Dacia recorded a huge 37% fall in market share, and when added to a market down 19%, that is quite a tumble in volume. It still does have 18% of the total sales. 

Škoda and Volkswagen have done well so far as have Chery, BYD and Nissan but Renault and Hyundai have suffered. It really is all rather topsy turvy. 

Data source: DGPCI. Photos Dacia (Sandero Stepway & Bigster).