Honda Cars : Honda's hybrid selling well | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen (S$29,500) in Japan and will sell for under US$20,000 (S$30,800) in the US, the cheapest hybrid on the commercial market. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO - ORDERS for the hybrid Insight have totalled 18,000 since it hit the Japanese auto market about a month ago, outpacing Honda's target and underlining the success of the new affordable and ecological vehicle, the company said on Tuesday.

The brisk demand for the gas-electric hybrid is a rare piece of good news for Honda Motor Co. as the auto industry grapples with plunging global demand. Honda, Japan's second biggest automaker, was hoping for the Insight's monthly sales to reach 5,000 vehicles.

The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen (S$29,500) in Japan and will sell for under US$20,000 (S$30,800) in the US, the cheapest hybrid on the commercial market. The Insight goes on sale in April in the US, and March in Europe.

Oil prices have tumbled from their peak last July, detracting from the possible appeal of gas-sipping hybrids. But the Insight is drawing a wide-range of buyers to the showroom, according to Tokyo-based Honda The Insight was the top-selling hybrid for February in the ranking of new vehicle registrations in Japan, totaling 4,906, or No. 10 among all hybrid and regular models, even though it wasn't on sale for the full month.

That outpaced the Prius hybrid from Toyota Motor Corp, at No. 12, with 4,524 registered for the month, and cumulatively the best-selling hybrid model.

Details of the Insight's overseas pricing are still being finalised. But it's cheaper than the Prius, at US$22,000 in the US and 2.3 million yen in Japan.

Toyota, which sold 285,700 Prius cars worldwide last year, is introducing a remodelled Prius in May, which is bigger and has a more powerful engine than the current Prius, and likely to be more expensive.

Japanese media have speculated that Toyota may continue selling the old Prius even after the remodeled version goes on sale - an unusual move for an automaker - to compete against the cheaper Insight.

Toyota has refused to comment on the report. But it is almost certain that the competition among hybrid offerings will intensify this year.

Last month, Honda chose a new president and chief executive Takanobu Ito, who has a career in engineering, to press ahead with innovations and prepare for long-term growth. -- AP

Source;

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Tech+and+Science/Story/STIStory_348242.html

Honda Cars : Japan; Honda's Insight hatchback makes lightning fast entry into top-10 list | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Kyodo News

Honda Motor Co.'s Insight hybrid hatchback, which only made its showroom debut Feb. 6, made the top-10 sales list for February with monthly sales of 4,906 units, an industry body said Thursday.

The Japan Automobile Dealers Association attributed the five-door, gasoline-electric hybrid's entry to the list to its high fuel-economy and affordable sticker price.
The main customer groups of the Insight were middle-aged and senior drivers, as well as people with families, it said.

In contrast, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid hatchback fell to 12th from January's fifth place with sales of 4,524 units, down 22.2 percent, according to data released by the association.
The drop in demand for the Prius was due to competition from the Insight, as well as to the economy's overall deterioration, which has weighed heavily on the auto market, according to association officials.

The basic Insight model retails for ¥1.890 million, compared with ¥2.331 million for the basic Prius.

Orders for the Insight topped 15,000 units by the end of February, triple Honda's monthly sales goal.

Saitama green deal

Honda Motor Co. said Thursday it has agreed with the Saitama Prefectural Government to strengthen their cooperation to preserve the environment, including by increasing the use of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly cars.

Under the agreement, signed by Honda President Takeo Fukui and Saitama Gov. Kiyoshi Ueda, the two parties will also cooperate in the promotion of environmental education, with Honda dispatching instructors to programs for teaching fuel-efficient driving.

Honda's announcement came a day after Nissan Motor Co. announced a five-year joint project with Yokohama to realize a sustainable zero-emission transportation system in the city.

Source;
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20090306a4.html