Cumulative worldwide sales of Honda hybrids passes 1 million units
15 October 2012
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles surpassed 1 million units as of the end of September 2012. This milestone was reached 12 years and 11 months after the start of sales of the first generation Insight in Japan November 1999, which realized fuel economy of 35 km/liter (82.3 mpg US, 2.86 L/100k m) on the 10･15 mode with a 5-speed MT vehicle—at the time the world’s highest fuel economy among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles.
Toyota hit the 1-million mark for cumulative global hybrid sales at the end of May 2007 (earlier post), and has since rocketed past 4 million cumulative units. (Earlier post.) Toyota unveiled the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) in March 1997, then launched its first hybrid production vehicle (the Coaster) in Japan that August, followed by the first-generation Prius in December 1997.
Leveraging the features of its IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, Honda has been enhancing its hybrid vehicle lineup and currently sells eight hybrid models (three of them solely in Japan) in approximately 50 countries around the world.
| History of Honda’s Hybrid Models | ||||||
| Year | Month | Model introduced to the market | Cumulative worldwide hybrid vehicle sales |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | November | First generation Insight | ||||
| 2001 | December | Civic Hybrid | ||||
| 2004 | December | Accord Hybrid (North America only) | ||||
| 2005 | April: 100,000 units | |||||
| 2007 | May: 200,000 units | |||||
| 2009 | February | Second generation Insight | August: 400,000 units | |||
| 2010 | February October |
CR-Z Fit Hybrid |
December: 600,000 units | |||
| 2011 | June October October |
June: Fit Shuttle Hybrid (Japan only) Freed Hybrid (Japan only) Freed Spike Hybrid (Japan only) |
December: 800,000 units | |||
| 2012 | May | Acura ILX Hybrid (USA, Canada only) | September: 1,000,000 units | |||
In May of this year, Honda began production of hybrid models in regions outside of Japan with production of the Acura ILX Hybrid in the US followed by production of the Jazz Hybrid which began in Thailand in July of this year. Honda is also planning to begin production of the Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia in 2012.
In addition to further advancing the current hybrid model offerings equipped with the one-motor IMA hybrid system, Honda will introduce new hybrid vehicles for mid-size models which will be equipped with a two-motor hybrid system. (Earlier post.)
A high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), which realizes both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the NSX and Acura RLX, as well as the successor model of the Legend which is scheduled to be introduced in Japan. (Earlier post.)
GM demonstrated their first plugin hybrid auto in 1969 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_XP-883
With a forty year head start, when did GM hybrids cross the one million units sales mark?
Posted by: kelly | 15 October 2012 at 07:40 AM
Their 1999 to 2012 total cumulative hybrid sales are below Toyota's 2012 single year sales?
Posted by: HarveyD | 15 October 2012 at 10:31 AM
GM R&D seldom advances transportation, but rather identifies technical threats to big oil.
From GM's US electric trolley convictions through EV technology(EV1/NiMH battery patents, Volt line shutdowns, ..) disruptions - GM's there - "Like a Rock".
This month, the GCC 'NEC develops prototype 4.5V battery..' article drew over ten Feb 2012 existing Envia battery comment references.
GM, as with Ovonic Battery Co./NiMH batteries, is the major automotive Envia stockholder.
Surprise - the Envia battery use is '..years from now'.
Posted by: kelly | 15 October 2012 at 12:09 PM
Kelly - you've wandered over into tinfoil hat territory.
If GM is protecting 'big oil' then why did it introduce the Volt PHEV? Why is it bringing full-sized PHEV pickups and SUVs to market? PHEVs stand to cut oil use by 80%.
Furthermore you're hyping the amount of money GM has invested in Envia.
Envia has laid out their route to a commercial EV battery and they state that it will take them another three years or so to finalize and test their cathodes and anodes.
Posted by: Bob Wallace | 16 October 2012 at 10:13 AM
Great information for upcoming near term multiple variation. End customers will soon have more options at lower price.
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Posted by: Account Deleted | 29 October 2012 at 11:11 PM