TOKYO (AP) — Japanese car manufacturer Honda The company on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to electric vehicles, announcing it would invest 10 trillion yen ($65 billion) by fiscal 2031 to supply EV models around the world, including the United States and China.
“Honda remains committed to the belief that EVs are the most effective solution in the field of small mobility products such as motorcycles and cars,” the Tokyo-based company said in a statement.
The company said that by 2030, battery and fuel cell EVs will account for 40% of Honda’s global vehicle sales, with a global production capacity of more than 2 million EVs.
The so-called “0 series”, which is a key part of Honda’s EV strategy, will be an entirely new EV series created from “zero”, CEO Toshihiro Mibe told reporters in an online presentation.
The 0 Series will be introduced in North America in 2026, followed by a global rollout, with seven models scheduled to be released by 2030. In China, Honda plans to introduce 10 EV models by 2027, and 100% of car sales will be EVs by 2035.
“We will be pioneers in changing our lifestyles to achieve sustainability goals, rather than waiting for someone else to commit to them,” Mibe told reporters.
Although there are calls for electric vehicles to slow down in some markets, Honda, which manufactures Acura and Civic sedans and Gold Wing Tour motorcycles, says that in the long term, the move toward EVs is solid, and will continue in the second half of the 2020s. will become mainstream.
Honda’s determination to pursue battery and fuel cell EVs comes as domestic rival Toyota Motor Corp. is focusing on hybrid and other engine-powered models, with a focus on more diverse or “multiple” powertrains. The approach seems to be in contrast.
Mr. Mibe said that Honda will continue to keep hybrid vehicles in its lineup as it aims to achieve zero accidents by increasing EV production, strengthening battery production, and making batteries thinner.
Of the construction investment of 10 trillion yen ($65 billion), approximately 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) will be spent on software research and development, and an additional 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) will be spent on comprehensive EV value chains in major markets. will be allocated to the construction of Just like America, Canada, and Japan.
According to the company, approximately 6 trillion yen ($39 billion) will be invested in “manufacturing,” or “the art of manufacturing” in Japanese, including the construction of next-generation EV production plants, the electrification of motorcycles, and the development of EV models. .
Mr. Mibe emphasized Honda’s various partnerships. Regarding the development of EV and intelligent driving technology with Japanese rival Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.announced earlier this year.
Honda announced Wednesday that it has signed a deal with IBM to collaborate on computer chips and software for future cars to meet future demands for increased processing power and reduced power consumption.
Mr. Mibe said, “We are steadily and steadily making preparations for electrification.”
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Yuri Kageyama is in X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
