Media Release: 15 October 2012
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 midsize 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.
Media Release: 15 October 2012
History of Honda’s Hybrid Models
Year
Month / Model introduced to the market
1999
2001
2004
November: First generation Insight
December: Civic Hybrid
December: Accord Hybrid (North America
only)
Civic Hybrid launched in New Zealand
2005
2006
April: 100,000 units
Updated Civic Hybrid launched in New
Zealand
2007
2009
2010
2011
2012
Honda’s cumulative
worldwide hybrid vehicle
sales
February: Second generation Insight
February: CR-Z
October: Fit Hybrid
Insight launched in New Zealand
June: Fit Shuttle Hybrid (Japan only)
October: Freed Hybrid (Japan only)
Freed Spike Hybrid (Japan only)
CRZ launched in New Zealand
May: Acura ILX Hybrid (USA, Canada only)
Civic IMA (hybrid) launched in New Zealand
ENDS
For media information contact:
Graeme Meyer
Head of Marketing
Honda New Zealand Ltd
P: (09) 262 5906 m: (027) 494 3165
E: Graeme.meyer@honda.co.nz
May: 200,000 units
NZ: 500 units
August: 400,000 units
December: 600,000 units
NZ: 1,000 units
December: 800,000 units
NZ: 1,500 units
September: 1,000,000 units
NZ: 1,900 units