Weak sales of Civic model push down Honda totals in November

Honda sales slide 3 percent

NEW YORK — American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said Tuesday that its sales slid about 3 percent in November as its Civic model faltered.

BY THE NUMBERS: Honda said it sold 74,003 vehicles in November, compared with 76,233 in the same month a year ago. For the year, sales also slumped, with 1,043,641 vehicles sold the first 11 months, compared with 1,342,680 in the same period in 2008.

The automaker said car sales dropped but truck sales at both its Honda and Acura brands rose.

Sales of the popular Civic dropped to 13,652 from 17,690 in November last year. The hybrid version of the Civic saw sales plunge to 243 in November compared with 1,043 in November of 2008.

HOT MODELS: The Accord was Honda’s top seller, with 17,239 moving in November, though less than last year’s 17,430. Honda’s CRV and Acura’s MDX and RDX saw sizable increases in sales in November this year compared with last.