Hyundae profits up

* Hyundai Motors has had a big year, and the results are showing in the form of healthy profits. The Korean automaker earned $1.75 billion in the first quarter, up 46 percent versus the first quarter of 2010, while overall sales were up 21 percent to $17 billion.

* Hyundai's fortunes are rising worldwide. It's sales volume -- the number of vehicles it sold -- was up 9% to 922,000. Much of that increase occurred in plants in the U.S. and China, where output climbed by 14 percent. Hyundai is also benefiting from selling higher-priced vehicles to its customers, a result of greater consumer confidence in the brand as it has posted consistently higher quality scores. Prices for Hyundai branded vehicles are 2.5% higher in Korea, but 14% higher in other markets.

* The story was very different for Honda Motor Co. in its earnings report. The Japanese automaker's profits were hammered by the effects of the Earthquake and tsunami in its own home country. Honda's earnings were down 38% in its fiscal fourth quarter in large part because its production of cars and SUVs is way down because of damaged plants and a shortage of parts.

* Honda and other Japanese car makers are trying to restore full production operations after last month's earthquake and tsunami damaged parts factories and power plants, causing shortages of parts and and electricity to run even plants that were spared the devastation.

* Honda said it expects its global output to return to normal levels by the end of the year. But in the meantime, availability of many models will be short at Honda dealerships.