Honda to sell new gas-electric hybrid next year, outlines strategy for plant cost cuts

May 21, 2008

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Honda will sell a new, improved and affordable gas-electric hybrid in the U.S., Japan and Europe starting in early 2009, underlining the Japanese automaker’s commitment to “green” technology, the company president said Wednesday.

The new model to be sold solely as a hybrid, and not as a traditional, gasoline-powered car is a key part of Honda Motor Co.’s strategy for the next three years that President Takeo Fukui outlined at Tokyo headquarters.

The plan also included production innovations and expansion in Japan to cut costs so Honda can stay competitive amid soaring material and energy costs, he said.

In addition to the new hybrid, Honda will introduce several other hybrids: a Civic, a new sporty model based on the CR-Z and a Fit subcompact, sold as the Jazz in Europe, Fukui said.

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Nissan Gets Set To Make Heart Of Electric Vehicle

Shu-Ching Jean Chen, 05.19.08

Hong Kong -

Nissan Motor is pressing ahead with its plan to become a leader in zero-emission electric cars, announcing Monday that it will build manufacturing facilities with NEC to produce lithium-ion batteries by 2009.

Early in April, Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ) entered into a joint venture with NEC (nasdaq: NIPNY - news - people ) to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries, the rechargeable heart for electric and hybrid vehicles. The joint-venture company, called Automotive Energy Supply Corp., will spend 12 billion yen ($114.6 million) spread over a three-year period to build production facilities at a Nissan campus in Kanagawa Prefecture.

…The companies said that their lithium-ion batteries, featuring a compact laminated configuration, will be able to supply twice as much electric power as nickel-metal hydride batteries, which use a cylindrical configuration, but at only half the size.

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