When the latest sales figures are officially released, Honda will become the fourth best-selling automaker in the United States, surpassing the Chrysler Group and further assailing the once rock-solid dominance of the Detroit Big Three.

Through November 2009, Honda sold 1.044 million units. With a lead of 200,000 units on Chrysler, Honda comfortably surpassed its 2008 performance for the same period when Chrysler was ahead by 21,000 vehicles.

Kathy Graham, a spokesperson for Chrysler, acknowledged the company's trailing position to Honda in sales, but said the situation was temporary. "We are taking the steps that are necessary to have a good foundation and to build consumer confidence.

Last month Chrysler upped its advertising expenditures, a move it hopes will bolster sales. "We are on the right path," said Graham. "There will be short-term pain to get to our long-term goals." For 2009, however, Chrysler stand no chance of catching Honda.

John Mendel, executive vice president for American Honda, indicated there would be no celebrations relative to the sales milestone. "We only look at our sales and our objective," he said. "We may look at Civic and Corolla or Accord and Camry, but not at who ranks where."

He was even charitable in regard to the wisdom of government spending to shore up Chrysler. "We are all in the same hospital, and some of us are more critical than others," he said. "Everyone is hurting. We cut Formula One. We cut 200,000 units of production. It was the right thing to do, but it was painful."

"Either you pay in production cuts, increased fleet sales or increased incentives, but everyone is paying right now," he said. For Honda, however, the pain is paying off and for Chrysler, it's not.