Honda Insight Hybrid To Be Canned By 2015?

by Anthony Ingram of www.greencarreports.com

Honda's Insight has never enjoyed the success of the Toyota Prius or even Honda's own Civic Hybrid, and it looks like the writing is now finally on the wall for the budget hybrid hatchback.

According to Autoblog Green, sources within the company have revealed that some preparation procedures normally associated with a new model launch--such as preparing advertising materials--are not taking place. It suggests that Honda doesn't intend to extend the Insight into the 2015 model year.

Few will shed a tear at this news, though it does leave a gap at the lower end of the hybrid market. Despite the Insight's compact body, it's actually the cheapest hybrid vehicle on sale--undercutting the Toyota Prius C by a small margin and significantly undercutting Honda's own Civic Hybrid.

At the same time, the Insight has never really enjoyed the sales success of Toyota's hybrids. While admirably efficient in real-world driving its 42 mpg combined economy rating doesn't really stand out, and its 1.3-liter Integrated Motor Assist hybrid drivetrain offers only modest performance.

Honda itself has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors, but it wouldn't come as a shock if Honda does pull the plug.

Last year, we described the Insight as the "forgotten hybrid"--with low sales since its introduction in 2009, scraping 20,000 units in its first two years and little over 15,000 in 2011. In 2012, the model sold just 22,440 units globally--one seventeenth the number of Prius sold worldwide despite a much lower price tag.
It looks unlikely Honda will bring an Insight replacement to the U.S. either, even if it produces one for other markets.

That gap could instead be filled by the next-generation Honda Fit Hybrid, a car we drove in Japan last month. The Insight is based on the previous Fit's floorpan, and it's likely a future model would use the new Fit's underpinnings.

The Fit has always sold better than the Insight--moving nearly 50,000 units last year and as many as 79,000 in 2008--so it makes much more sense to import that model, rather than try another Insight. Whether Honda will or not is a different matter...

Source;
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088943_honda-insight-hybrid-to-be-canned-by-2015

Honda CEO Ito believes Chinese market not ripe for hybrid cars yet

By  John Hofilena

This year’s Shanghai auto show display spaces were filled with numerous models of hybrid and electric cars – which maybe is a sign that the global auto market is moving in that general direction. It may also be a loud signal to China to consider greener automobile solutions, what with the massive clouds of smog that covered the cities these past few months. But Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito believes that the Chinese market might not be quite into hybrid cars yet. 


Of the four new concept and production cars displayed by the Japanese carmaker at the Shanghai auto show on Saturday, none were hybrids or electric. Honda put out three hybrid vehicles available to the Chinese market last year – the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid – but the automaker revealed that it only sold 542 hybrid units in China in the whole of 2012. “Overall, we have high hopes for hybrid technology. In terms of how important it is to the Chinese market we are slowly releasing products and looking at how they do,” Mr. Ito said in Shanghai on Saturday. “But we think there are still more Chinese consumers who want to simply buy a car that fits their needs rather than buy a hybrid. By needs I mean a good-quality car with an affordable price that doesn’t break down. At present, we think these take higher priority.” The current atmosphere regarding hybrids could eventually change, Ito allowed. He said that the hybrid mentality needs a push from the Chinese government, by incorporating higher fuel-economy standards and the government’s overall backing for a green-car industry. Honda is even making plans to produce hybrid components and parts in the country in 2014.

Ito admitted that hybrid car technology would cost a bit more no matter what, and at this point this is something that Chinese consumers are not yet willing to pay. If, like in Japan, the Chinese government gives incentives and subsidies towards green car purchases, the mentality could start changing in that direction. Ito pledged that Honda will continue to offer hybrid vehicles to the Chinese market, and gradually grow its list of available models more and more, if the Chinese government makes good on enacting policies that would make hybrids the more attractive option for Chinese car buyers.

Source;
http://japandailypress.com/honda-ceo-ito-believes-chinese-market-not-ripe-for-hybrid-cars-yet-2327527

No 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid for Canada

Given the low sales volumes of the 2012 Honda Civic, the Japanese automaker still has enough units left in Canada not to order 2013 models.

Despite the Civic being the most popular car in the country for the past decade and a half, Honda Canada sold a mere 150 Civic Hybrids last year. This poor performance may be due to harsh criticism of the car's real-world fuel economy, which is said to be only marginally better than the regular Civic's.

Also, it wouldn't make much sense to offer a 2013 Civic Hybrid with Honda's new 2014 models about to hit the market.

Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/news/no-2013-honda-civic-hybrid-for-canada?artid=154720