Honda's Chief Executive, Mr Takanobu Ito, has outlined the company's strategic approach for the next ten years while delivering his mid-term speech on the anniversary of his appointment as CEO. Key to the strategy is the introduction of a small diesel engine in Europe in 2012 to account for the global shift towards more compact vehicles with smaller engines.
The strategic plan also gives scope to the development of efficiency-minded technologies that will appear in Honda showrooms around the world over the next two years. References to Honda's on-going environmental challenge were also made by reaffirming the firm's commitment to continue working on the development of the FC-X fuel cell car and hydrogen refuelling systems.
Honda is also committed to the introduction of hybrid technology, by boosting the line-up of models equipped with IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) systems. This will begin roll-out in 2011, with the Jazz.
Another priority is to pursue the development of battery technologies, a fundamental component in the advancement of hybrid vehicles. A next-generation Civic Hybrid will debut in 2011 in Europe with a new plug-in hybrid system expected to be introduced in the US and Japan by 2012. Looking to the future, the Japanese maker believes that fuel cell electric vehicles will provide the ultimate mobility.
Honda will also continue to progress its development of a "battery only" operated electric vehicle with a goal to bring it to market in 2012.