Latest figures from Honda prove it continues to be the franchise to invest in.

August 2006 delivered the 13th consecutive month of improved net profitability for the Honda dealer network.

Year to date the average net profitability of a Honda dealer was up to £107,000 - a 97 per cent (£53,000) improvement over last year.

As an investment opportunity the brand makes a compelling case - annualised return on capital employed for the average Honda dealer is strong at 17.1 per cent and the top third of Honda dealers take this figure up to 35 per cent.

In an increasingly tough operating environment, the composite net average profit percentage throughout the Honda dealerships is also well ahead - 1.4 per cent compared to the independently assessed industry average of 0.6 per cent.

Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of Honda dealers reported improved year on year net profit .

"This is a strong performance in a tough marketplace," said Ewan Ramsay, of the Honda (UK) Car division.

"What's particularly pleasing is that the growth has come from improved operational performance across all areas of dealership departments."

This is great news for existing franchise holders and will no doubt gain the attention of prospective investors. Honda remains committed to working with its dealers to deliver further growth and improved network profitability."