Honda has announced plans to introduce its luxury brand, Acura, in Japan.

The Acura brand will start in autumn 2008, with approximately 100 dealers in Japan. This will also enable Honda to achieve further growth and take a big step forward in its home market of Japan. The current number of Honda dealers there is 2,400.

Anticipated annual sales for Acura are expected to in excess of 800,000 units. Acura is a luxury brand Honda first introduced in the US in 1986.

Honda has no plans to introduce the Acura brand to Europe in the foreseeable future. However, the Acura Legend, on sale now in the US, will be coming to Europe next year as the new Honda Legend.