DETROIT (AP) — Honda says its North American factories will return to normal production in August except for the popular Civic compact car.

The company last month cut factory output in half because of parts shortages from the March 11 earthquake in Japan.

Earlier this month Honda warned dealers that they could run short of models this summer and that North American factories may not see normal production until the end of the year.

But Honda said Thursday that the supply situation in Japan continues to improve, so factories will ramp up on a plant-by-plant basis.

Honda says the 2012 Civic still lacks critical parts, and production will remain at about half the normal rate.

The earthquake and tsunami damaged parts supply plants and has caused power shortages at Japanese factories.