NOVEMBER 1, 2001
Honda getting healthier
Honda's Formula 1 program may not be very spectacular at the moment but the company's general financial health is improving with sales in Japan this year nearly doubling in the last six months.
"Until now we were totally dependent upon the US," said Honda Vice-President Koichi Amemiya (the company's number two). "Profits in Japan are increasing, and we are in a much better situation."
Honda's European sales are still dragging the company down with large operating losses which means that there is considerable scope for F1 to make an impact in Europe and push up sales of Honda cars.