Honda announced on 15 October that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles had broken the one million mark at the end of September 2012, almost 13 years after sales began of the first-generation Honda Insight in Japan in November 1999.
The first generation Insight achieved fuel economy of 35km/litre (98mpg imperial (not on the New European Drive Cycle) which was the world’s highest fuel economy among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles at the time.
Hybridisation is in Honda’s view an essential step from the internal combustion engine towards full electric vehicles and Honda believe this technology will play an increasingly important role. Building on its original IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, Honda currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the world, including three hybrid models in Europe.
Honda says it’s aiming to achieve “No 1 fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles”, and will introduce a new two-motor hybrid system for mid-size models and a high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) which will be applied to the new NSX which will be sold in Europe.
Honda’s larger competitor, Toyota, broke the one million hybrid sales barrier with its Prius in spring 2011, and by May 2012, had sold over four million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles.
