Cumulative Worldwide Sales of Honda Hybrid Vehicles Reaches 1 Million Units
Cumulative Worldwide Sales of Honda Hybrid Vehicles Reaches 1 Million Units
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles surpassed 1 million units as of the end of September 2012. This milestone was reached 12 years and 11 months after the start of sales of the first generation Insight in Japan November 1999, which had the world's highest fuel economy among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles at the time.
Capitalising on the unique features of Honda’s original lightweight and compact IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, Honda has been enhancing its hybrid vehicle lineup and currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the world. Honda New Zealand currently sells four IMA models, with the Jazz IMA expected in the new year.
In May of this year, Honda began production of hybrid models in regions outside of Japan with production of the Acura ILX Hybrid in the USA followed by production of the Jazz IMA which began in Thailand in July of this year. Moreover, Honda is also planning to begin production of the Jazz IMA in Malaysia in 2012 to deliver hybrid vehicles with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions for customers in Asia where demand for fuel efficient vehicles is expected to grow in the future.
In addition to further advancing the current hybrid model offerings equipped with the one-motor IMA hybrid system, Honda will introduce new hybrid vehicles for mid-size models which will be equipped with a two-motor hybrid system. Furthermore, for the pursuit of excellence in driving performance, a highly-efficient and high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), which realises both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the NSX and Acura RLX, as well as the successor model of the Legend which is scheduled to be introduced in Japan.
Under the global environmental slogan of “Blue Skies for Our Children,” Honda will continue its efforts to realise the further market penetration of hybrid vehicles to realise a low carbon society.
History of Honda’s Hybrid Models
|
Year |
Month / Model introduced to the market |
Honda’s cumulative worldwide hybrid vehicle sales |
|
1999 |
November: First generation Insight |
|
|
2001 |
December: Civic Hybrid |
|
|
2004 |
December: Accord Hybrid (North America only) Civic Hybrid launched in New Zealand |
|
|
2005 |
|
April: 100,000 units
|
|
2006 |
Updated Civic Hybrid launched in New Zealand |
|
|
2007 |
|
May: 200,000 units NZ: 500 units |
|
2009 |
February: Second generation Insight |
August: 400,000 units |
|
2010 |
February: CR-Z October: Fit Hybrid Insight launched in New Zealand |
December: 600,000 units NZ: 1,000 units |
|
2011 |
June: Fit Shuttle Hybrid (Japan only) October: Freed Hybrid (Japan only) Freed Spike Hybrid (Japan only) CRZ launched in New Zealand |
December: 800,000 units NZ: 1,500 units |
|
2012 |
May: Acura ILX Hybrid (USA, Canada only) Civic IMA (hybrid) launched in New Zealand |
September: 1,000,000 units NZ: 1,900 units |
ENDS
For media information contact:
Graeme Meyer
Head of Marketing
Honda New Zealand Ltd
P: (09) 262 5906 m: (027) 494 3165