Cumulative worldwide sales of Honda hybrid vehicles reach 1 million

Honda Motor Co announced Monday that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles surpassed 1 million units as of the end of September. 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 35km/liter -- then the world's highest fuel economy among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles.

Using its original lightweight and compact IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, Honda has been enhancing its hybrid vehicle lineup and currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the world.

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 USA followed by production of the Jazz Hybrid which began in Thailand in July of this year. Moreover, Honda is also planning to begin production of the Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia in 2012 to deliver hybrid vehicles with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions for customers in Asia where demand for fuel efficient vehicles is expected to grow in the future.

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. Furthermore, for the pursuit of excellence in driving performance, a highly-efficient and 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.

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