While not as near as successful as rivaling brand Toyota that sold its 4 millionth hybrid in May, 2012, Honda is a respectable foe in the hybrid car market with the automaker announcing today that its cumulative worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles surpassed the 1 million mark at the end of September 2012.
The Japanese carmaker reached the 1 million milestone almost 13 years after it launched its first ever production hybrid model, the Insight Mk1 in Japan in November of 1999.
Honda notes that the first Insight achieved a fuel economy of 35km/litre (equal to 82.3mpg US, 2.9lt/100km and 98/9mpg UK) in Japan’s 10-15 driving cycle, which was the world’s highest fuel economy rating among all mass-production petrol-powered vehicles at the time.
Currently, Honda sells eight different hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the world including three in Europe.
Earlier this year, the company began production of hybrid models outside of Japan with the Acura ILX Hybrid in the USA in May followed by the Jazz Hybrid in Thailand in July. Honda said it will also begin manufacturing the Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia before the end of 2012.
In the immediate future, Honda said it will further advance its current one-motor IMA hybrid system with the goal of achieving “number one fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles”.
Furthermore, the automaker will soon introduce a new two-motor hybrid system for mid-size models and an efficient, high-output three-motor hybrid system named the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, in cars like the Acura / Honda NSX and Acura RLX / Honda Legend (JDM).
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