Honda Insight Tops the European Charts

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – June 19, 2009: Honda has today announced that its new Insight hybrid vehicle has sold more than any other hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle in Europe.

The hybrid sector and alternative fuels sector, which features any passenger car not powered by petrol or diesel is set to grow further in the near future. At the same time the market will begin to segment, dividing the sector into a multitude of different types of cars – just like the traditional car market. In the future Honda will produce a hybrid version of the Jazz and a production car based on the CR-Z Concept, giving the consumer a wider choice of Honda hybrid models.

The figures obtained from Jato Dynamics show that in its first full month of sales the Insight proved to be the most popular petrol-electric hybrid vehicle on the market. This achievement follows on from the success of the Insight in Japan where in April it was the first hybrid ever to be the number one selling passenger car.

Third place in the table went to Honda’s Civic Hybrid, which like the Insight is also a fuel efficient, low emission, full-parallel hybrid. The Civic Hybrid is Australia’s most affordable hybrid. Both cars can run on the electric motor alone in some medium to high speed conditions, giving near silent running and fuel efficiency benefits.

The Insight is currently being introduced across Europe, joining the Civic Hybrid in Honda’s petrol-electric range. Honda Motor Europe, Senior Vice President, Ken Keir is delighted that the Insight has been so well received, commenting: “We introduced Europe to hybrids almost 10 years ago when we put the original Insight on sale. The Insight was the first hybrid to be sold in Europe and this sector is set to continue to expand and diversify.”