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Honda is the highest ranking mass-market (non-premium) brand for the second consecutive year and fifth among all industry nameplates in J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study^SM (IQS) for 2012, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced today.

Honda auto plants also earned two plant assembly line awards for quality performance, with Line 3 of the Honda plant in Suzuka, Japan earning the top Platinum Award. The Marysville, Ohio auto plant Line 1 earned the Silver Plant Quality Award in North America.

The Honda and Acura brands achieved the best scores in their histories of the current generation of IQS. The Honda brand held onto its position as the highest performing mass-market brand by improving on its industry-leading score of a year ago, and for the fourth straight year overall. The Acura brand also improved and ranks sixth among all nameplates.

The all-new 2012 Honda CR-V earned the highest score in the compact crossover SUV category, while five other Honda models finished second in their respective segments. In fact, the Accord (midsize car), the Odyssey (minivan), the Crosstour (midsize crossover SUV), the Ridgeline (midsize pickup) and the Fit (sub-compact car) finished just behind the segment leader. Additionally, the Pilot ranked third, just behind the Crosstour, in the midsize crossover SUV segment. All of these models except the Fit are manufactured in North America using domestic and globally sourced parts. The IQS ranks vehicles based on a measure of reported problems per 100 vehicles (or PP100).

"For the second consecutive year our performance demonstrates our consistent commitment to deliver the highest quality for our customers," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Thanks to the efforts of Honda associates in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales, we were able to continue to improve quality performance in this key industry ranking."

In the manufacturing area, 2012 marks the second consecutive year that a Honda plant has earned the top assembly line award globally. The 2012 J.D. Power and Associates study recognized the Suzuka, Japan plant, Line 3, as the only global Platinum Award, for production of the Honda Fit and CR-Z. The Marysville, Ohio plant, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this fall, earned a Silver Plant Quality Award for production of the Honda Accord and Acura TL and RDX. In 2011, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC earned the IQS Platinum Award.

The J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study^SM serves as an important tool for consumers in evaluating the quality and design of new vehicles. Since 1987, J.D. Power and Associates has been surveying owners to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership.

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