Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. Ltd. plans to begin production and sales of its bestselling Fit hatchback in China next year, a newspaper said Saturday.

Honda plans to produce 60,000 cars a year at its plant in Guangdong in July next year for sales in the country, the Sankei Shimbun said.

The Japanese company also plans to produce the Fit at another Chinese plant in January 2005 for shipments to other countries, the newspaper said.

Honda is to sell the car for some 1.5 million yen (13,900 dollars), targetting middle-income residents in urban areas of the country, it said.

Last month, Honda began production and sales of the popular car in Thailand, with a plan to sell 16,000 cars for the initial year.

The Fit is also produced in Brazil and Japan.

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