Honda in Japan is to introduce a monthly monitoring system for electricity and other sources of energy at all domestic plants and dealerships by March 2004. The company has five car plants and 2,400 dealerships in Japan.

The move is to promote reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and develop more environmentally friendly products, according to company sources.

With the system, Honda will be able to calculate CO2 emissions at every stage of production of its automobiles and motorcycles, such as painting and assembly.

Honda plans to install the system, which is already in place at three plants, at the two other factories, so that they can monitor the consumption of electricity.