Hachigo posing with the Sports EV Concept.
Honda Motor will step up efforts to promote hybrid cars in the Asia-Pacific region in line with the company's 2030 Vision.
Earlier in June, the Japanese automaker had outlined its vision which aims to have green vehicles forming two-thirds of its global sales by 2030.
On the sidelines of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda Motor president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo spoke to journalists about the challenges in expanding green vehicle sales, his love for sports cars, and the automaker's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.
Electrifying Honda cars
"Our 2030 Vision is about quickly responding and overcoming rapid changes in our business environment. Also, Honda will continue to provide driving joy in the future. Two-thirds or 65 percent of our sales in 2030 will be hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), full battery EV (electric vehicle) models and hydrogen powered/fuel cell (FCV) vehicles.
Hachigo said the 65 percent target sales consists of 50 per cent for hybrids and PHEV, and 15 per cent for zero emission or battery operated EVs and hydrogen powered/fuel cell FCVs.
To recap, Honda is planning to launch a China-exclusive battery EV in 2018. A new electric scooter is also due to be launched by next year.
Hachigo reiterated that the Asia-Pacific region plays an important role in Honda's future.
However, he believes that in the Asia-Pacific region, it will be difficult to sell premium green cars like the Honda Clarity series (PHEV, battery EV and FCV variants) unless there is government subsidy or support.
Honda has launched the new Clarity series in North America. "However, as technology progresses, the market situation may change and we will respond accordingly. For now, in Asia and Oceania, we want to promote hybrids," said Hachigo.
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