Honda is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, although we do not notice it in Europe. In the Netherlands, Honda sells about 1200 cars per year. The brand supplies the Jazz, Civic, HR-V, CR-V and the electric Honda e. In the 1980s, Honda was much more successful on the Dutch market. Then the importer sold an average of more than 12,000 cars a year. And in the 1990s, it was consistently between 8,000 and 9,000.
Electric Honda e is fantastic and disappointing
Honda introduced its first electric car last year: the Honda e. The retro-futuristic hatchback has fantastic steering and a phenomenal interior, but it fails in other areas. For example, take a look at our action range test: the range is not over, especially for the price you have to pay for the Honda e. Anyway, there will be more electric cars from Honda, says new Honda CEO, Toshihiro Mibe.
Honda is investing 40 billion euros in development
He expects electric and hydrogen cars to make up 40 percent of Honda sales by 2030. Five years later, that percentage must be 80 percent. Mibe has set a deadline of 2040 to be completely combustion engine-free. As mentioned, other brands often opt for 2025 (Jaguar for example) or 2030. “It is our responsibility to become completely CO2 neutral,” says Mibe. “That will be very difficult, but I think it is achievable.” Honda will invest 40 billion euros in development over the next six years.