Honda is taking its Acura brand to China, in an attempt to attract status-seekers to its luxurious self. China, the world's fourth largest car market, will be the first outside North America in which the Acura brand is sold — following efforts by Mercedes and BMW to lure wealthy Chinese into their leather-lined luxo-sedans. Honda's first-year sales goal (2006) is 3,000 RL sedans, which will be sold through a forthcoming in-country dealer network, with the first 10 dealerships focusing on the largest cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and broadening to 30 in outlying areas in three years, according the company.

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