WAKO, Japan — Honda will start selling an electric vehicle as well as a plug-in hybrid in 2012 in the U.S. and Japan, joining the race to manufacture green cars in which rivals have already taken slight leads.
The plans were disclosed by Honda Motor Co. president Takanobu Ito at the Japanese automaker’s facility in a Tokyo suburb Tuesday.
“Honda has no future unless we achieve significant reduction in CO2 emissions,” he told reporters. “The next 10 years will be a true test for Honda’s survival.”
Coming up with good cars quickly and at affordable prices is now crucial to scoring success in changing times, Ito said. Customer needs are shifting to small and green vehicles, he said.
Ito declined to give details of the vehicles, including the batteries — the key component — they would use, except that it would be a commuter with a relatively short cruise range. The Associated Press
