Honda to Focus on Increasing Hybrid Volume With Core Models
As the next step in Honda’s electrification strategy in North America, the company will focus on increasing Hybrid volume of core models – CR-V, Accord, and in the future, Civic.
To make room for the new models, Honda will conclude Insight production in June. Honda will introduce all-new models of the CR-V Hybrid this year, followed by the Accord Hybrid, which will eventually make up 50% of the sales mix of each model.
With the conclusion of the Insight production, the Indiana Auto Plant will focus on building CR-V, VR-V Hybrid, and Civic Hatchbacks, several of Honda’s most popular models.
“Hybrid-electric vehicles are effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are a critical pathway toward Honda’s vision for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040,” said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Making the volume leader of our core models hybrid-electric will dramatically boost electrified sales in the Honda lineup, a strategy that will be augmented by the arrival of a Civic Hybrid in the future.”
Honda Electrified Future
In April 2021, Honda global CEO Toshihiro Mibe outlined the company’s vision for global sales of electrified vehicles as part of Honda’s strategy to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050. This vision calls for 40% of North American sales to be battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles by 2030, increasing to 80% by 2035, and to 100% by 2040.
More details about that announcement are available here. Honda recently announced additional advancements toward achieving this zero-emissions future.
Honda will introduce the Prologue SUV in 2024, its first new volume battery-electric vehicle (BEV). Co-developed with GM and based on the Ultium platform, the initial annual sales target for this new SUV is 70,000 units.
Honda then will introduce a series of electrified vehicles starting in 2026 based on its own Honda e:Architecture, with production of BEVs at Honda plants in North America. Honda will deploy 30 EV models by 2030, with more than 2/3 of those launched in China and North America.