Honda (NYSE: HMC) plans to release a five-door hatchback hybrid early in 2009 with similar styling to the compay’s FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle.
Honda CEO Takeo Fukui’s detailed the car-makers plans to win some of the hybrid market share from Toyota (NYSE: TO) during his mid-year address.
Although the official name and full product details won’t be announced until later this year, he said the new vehicle would offer significant weight and cost reductions resulting in the "most affordable hybrid vehicle to date."
Honda said the new small gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle will have expected annual global sales of 200,000 units per year–approximately 100,000 of which are bound for the North American market. Following this launch, Honda also plans to introduce another small hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z sports car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show as well as a Fit hybrid model. Including the Civic Hybrid, these four hybrid vehicles are expected to reach combined annual global sales of approximately 500,000 units.
The new hybrid will be produced at a newly developed second Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) production line at Honda’s Suzuka factory, which currently produces the Civic Hybrid. With the second line in operation and improvements in IMA production efficiency, hybrid production capacity at Suzuka will increase from 70,000 vehicles per year to approximately 250,000 units, with future expansion possible if needed.
Honda also said it plans to deliver about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles to customers in the first three years of production, with leases beginning in July. The lease program marks the world’s first large-scale retail initiative for fuel cell vehicle technology, and Honda has begun the process of identifying customers from a group of over 50,000 individuals who have expressed interest in the FCX Clarity, the company said.
The first customers will be announced on June 16 at a ceremony marking the completion of the first production vehicle.
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