Honda realigns global strategy: Plans 13 new hybrids by 2030, slows EV expansion
Amid a slowdown in global electric vehicle (EV) sales, Japanese auto major Honda Motor Company has realigned its focus in the passenger vehicle (PV) segment, as the company today announced that it will introduce 13 new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) across the globe by 2030.Honda will start introducing the 13 new next-generation HEVs from 2027 onwards. The move is aimed at strengthening the company's position in the growing HEV space.advertisement"While further refining the competitiveness of its products, Honda will launch 13 next-generation HEV models globally, over a four-year span starting in 2027, to build a broad lineup of HEV models and capture growing HEV demand in the market," said Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer (Global CEO), Honda Motor Company, at a press briefing on the company's initiatives on automobile electrification.
Honda had earlier announced that EVs will make up 30% of its global car sales. However, the company now expects the EV ratio to stay below the 30% target amid dwindling sales."As for EVs, due to the revision of the product launch plan considering the recent market slowdown, the Honda global EV sales ratio in 2030 is now expected to fall below the previously announced target of 30%," Mibe said.advertisement"On the other hand, current market demand for HEV models is high. Therefore, Honda will position its HEVs, mostly next-generation HEV models to be introduced to the market in 2027 onward, as the powertrain that will play a key role during the transition period toward the popularisation of EVs and further enhance its HEV lineup," he added.According to Honda, a steady execution of the realignment strategy by 2030 will allow it to increase the total PV volume to over 3.6 million units, with a handsome contribution of 2.2 million units from HEVs by 2030.
Image - Honda Global News
Mibe observed that the environment surrounding the automobile industry is changing day by day. "Uncertainty in the business environment is increasing, due particularly to the slowdown in the expansion of the EV market due to several factors, including changes in environmental regulations, which had been the premise for the widespread adoption of EVs, as well as changes in trade policies of various countries," he said."In order to maintain its competitiveness in such a business environment and continue to help and inspire people through its mobility products and services, Honda must create new value not only through electrification but also with enhanced application of intelligent technologies, and then offer such value to a broader range of customers in more accessible and affordable ways," he noted.advertisementHonda is also developing its original next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which assists the driver with vehicle operations such as acceleration and steering throughout the entire route. The new technology will be installed in several key EV and HEV models that will be launched in North America and Japan around 2027.In China, the company will work with Momenta Global, a Chinese startup company engaged in autonomous driving technology, to develop next-generation ADAS optimised for the country's road conditions. It will be installed in all future models Honda will launch in China.Honda also said that to increase the cost competitiveness of HEV models, it is pursuing further cost reduction mainly with key components such as batteries and motors with various initiatives, including co-creation activities with suppliers, further improvement of production efficiency and commonization of more parts and components."Through these initiatives, along with an increase in sales volume, Honda is aiming to reduce the cost of the next-generation hybrid system by more than 50% compared to the hybrid system installed to models introduced in 2018, and by more than 30% compared to the hybrid system introduced in 2023 to current models," Mibe said.advertisementIn India, Honda offers three models -- Amaze (sedan), City (sedan) and Elevate (SUV). The City also has a hybrid variant -- City e:HEV. Last year, the company announced that it will launch three new nameplates in India within FY27.Honda's domestic PV sales fell 23.86% to 65,925 units in FY25 from 86,584 units in FY24. However, its exports zoomed 60.23% to 60,229 units in FY25 from 37,589 units during the previous fiscal.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine
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