Honda Motor Co. expects its global sales will rise six per cent this year to a record 3.76 million vehicles thanks to booming demand in the U.S., Europe and Asia, the automaker's president said Wednesday.

The positive outlook is expected to continue into next year, Takeo Fukui, the president of Japan's No. 2 automaker, told reporters at a Tokyo hotel.

Honda, which makes the Accord sedan and Civic compact, did not give an overall global sales forecast for 2008. But it said sales will grow around the world, including North America, Europe and China, that will offset declining sales in its home market of Japan in 2008.

Like Toyota Motor Corp., another Japanese automaker enjoying solid global growth, Honda has gotten a sales boost from the recent surge in oil prices that is adding to the appeal of Japanese offerings reputed for good mileage.

The 2007 sales projection is up from 3.55 million vehicles in 2006.