Honda Motor Co. may build more vehicles than bankrupt Chrysler LLC in North America this year, further weakening Detroit's grip on its home market.

Honda narrowed the gap to 17,011 vehicles at the end of April from 236,645 a year earlier, and with most Chrysler plants shut for as long as 60 days, analysts expect the Japanese automaker to overtake its rival.

Honda may also top Chrysler in U.S. sales to trail only bankruptcy-threatened General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co.