Honda Plans for New Electric Cars

On Tuesday 20th July 2010, Mr. Takanobu Ito, chief executive and president of Japan´s second largest car maker Honda has launched plans for the company to expand its low emission car lineup. Honda will manufacture new, better and cheaper plug in hybid and electric vehicles which are scheduled for sale in 2012.

Honda feels that there is a new niche in the market with the current environmental issues calling for motor manufacturers to shift their focus to creating good, reliable, small environmentally green vehicles.

Although Mr. Ito has refused to give any details about the vehicles, he´s gone onto say that green technology is becoming increasingly important in the motor industry. At a press conference in Wako Japan Mr. Ito said "what I think is most important, and the message I conveyed to all Honda associates was to provide our customers with good products with speed, efficiency and quality that are affordable and have low co2 emissions."

He went onto say "Honda has no future unless we achieve significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The next 10 years will be true test for Honda´s survival."

Japanese rival Nissan have also began their plans for their electric leaf car set for arrival in Japan and the U.S late 2010, and market leader Toyota are planning on adding an electric model to their range for 2012.

The decision has been made that operations will start at the new Honda plant in Yori Saitama prefecture (north Tokyo), due to the plan being previously postponed on auto demand after the global financial crisis.

Several models which are improved versions of the current Hybid system are set to be launched in Japan at the end of this year.

The new cheaper ranges should also help the used car market as currently it can be difficult to obtain an environmentally friendly car. Often they are also overvalued due to the difference in supply and demand. If there is an influx of vehicles into the new car market then this should help to bolster the used market at the same time.

published: 23/07/2010