HONDA Motor Corp yesterday announced that sales of its Chinese venture, which makes vehicles exclusively for export, achieved 50,000 units, according to a company statement.

The Honda Automobile (China) Co Ltd, formed by the Japan's second-largest car maker, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Co and Hong Kong-listed Dongfeng Motor Group Co, is the nation's only venture for making vehicles that solely target overseas markets.

The company, located in Guangzhou with a registered capital of US$82 million, made 24,600 Jazz compacts last year after the venture kicked off production in 2005. Daily production reached 200 units in full capacity, the company said.

It plans to lift the production by 71 percent to reach 42,000 units this year, exporting to 10 overseas markets including German and Britain. Honda has two other ventures in China making vehicles for the domestic market.