Honda to launch hybrid cars in China

TOKYO October 31, 2005; Japan Today reported that Honda Motor Co is planning to sell hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles in China as rival Toyota Motor Corp. is to start production there of the fuel-efficient cars within this year, a senior Honda official said Saturday.

"We want to launch hybrid cars in China as early as possible," Atsuyoshi Hyogo, a Honda executive director in charge of the Chinese market, said in a press briefing. The carmaker is considering selling the Civic Hybrid sedan in the rapidly growing economy in Asia.