Honda Exec Vows to Help U.S.

The head of Honda Motor Co. said Thursday his firm aimed to keep production levels high in the United States and purchase more parts in the U.S. to help support the U.S. economy and its floundering auto industry.

Honda Chief Executive Takeo Fukui said such measures were preferable to raising prices on Japanese cars.

Honda currently produces about 80% of its vehicles for the American market in the U.S. and buys many auto parts needed for its U.S.-market cars from local suppliers, Fukui said.

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have seen their U.S. market share become sharply eroded by Asian rivals. And some Japanese automakers fear a protectionist backlash in America.

In an apparent effort to stave off anti-Japanese sentiments, Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Hiroshi Okuda said last month that he was considering raising prices in the U.S., as well as sharing technological research to help troubled U.S. automakers.