Largest foreign companies with U.S. HQs IN L.A.: ranked by parent company revenue.

* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE 25 largest foreign companies with U.S. headquarters in L.A. County had combined revenues of $450 billion for the 2007 fiscal year.

Many foreign companies saw revenues increase as a result of the weak U.S. dollar. In comparison with Japanese yen, the dollar

Great Britain's largest retailer, Tesco PLC, made its initial move into L.A. County two years ago by launching El Segundo-based Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. The British retailer plans to invest $2 billion in the chain, giving it a significant presence in North America.

Fresh & Easy has already opened 61 locations in California, Arizona and Nevada. Each store employs 20 to 30 people in 10,000-square-foot markets. It will open its 62nd North American location in Manhattan Beach next month.

Meanwhile, one foreign company plans to suspend its North American operations starting in 2009. Isuzu Motors North America Inc. will halt sales of vehicles. However, the company plans to keep its parts and service operation centers fully functional.

The 25 largest foreign companies with local headquarters employ 1.2 million people worldwide.

--David Nusbaum

* THE TRENDS

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* THE PACESETTER

AMERICAN Honda Motor Co. Inc., the Torrance-based subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., tops the list of largest foreign companies with U.S. headquarters in L.A. County for the third consecutive year.

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Tokyo-based Honda reported $113 billion in revenues for 2007. The company manufactures a wide array of engine-powered vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, light business jets, marine engines and personal watercraft.

The company manufactures automobiles under the Honda and Acura flags. In May, the company shattered its previous sales record in the United States with 167,997 vehicles sold. Its best selling model was the Civic, which accounted for 53,299 units. That was the company's highest-ever number of vehicles in one model sold in the U.S. The previous record of 49,098 was set in August 2003 by the Accord.

Honda Performance Division, the Santa Clarita-based division for professional auto racing operations announced last month that it extended its contract with IndyCar Series to provide the motor sport with engines for the next five years. Honda joined the league in 2003.