Honda says cheaper e:HEV models coming
BY MATT BROGAN | 6th May 2024
HONDA is planning to broaden its petrol-electric hybrid range in Australia soon, by offering its e:HEV drivelines on lower-specification variants after introducing the technology exclusively on each model’s range-topper.
Speaking to Australian motoring media gathered for the launch of the eleventh-generation Accord – itself now a hybrid-only option – in Melbourne last week, Honda Australia vice president and director Carolyn McMahon said the forthcoming availability of hybrid drivetrains on lower trim levels would offer Australian buyers greater choice.
“The federal government has obviously announced its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, and like every other OEM, we have been watching that intently and working with our parent company to see what impact that will have for us, and what that looks like moving forward,” she said.
“We welcome the government’s introduction of this program (as) it very much aligns with Honda’s long-term zero-emissions target. We are seeing very good take-up of hybrid at the moment.
“Many people feel very comfortable stepping from ICE into hybrid before they step up to battery electric.”
Ms McMahon said that level of comfort had brought more hybrid buyers than expected through Honda showroom doors, and that the importer was now working closely with Japan to expand its e:HEV offering into lower model grades.
“We are very much sticking to our hybrid strategy. We think it’s the right strategy for us. We’ve got good take-up of hybrid, and you’ll start to see an expansion of that later in the year as well,” she enthused.
“As part of our regional hybrid expansion strategy, and now that we’ve launch our full model range, you will start to see through different mid-life updates or different upgrades that (hybrid offering) expanded down through the range.”
With Honda’s hybrid range currently placed at the top of each respective model range, it is expected the addition of lower spec variants will bring down the price of the technology for Honda customers.
In turn, it is likely that Honda could regain some of the share it lost in moving to an agency sales model – or see a reduced take-up of internal combustion engine (ICE) models.
“Current hybrid take-up is around 40 per cent, and I think last year we estimated that it would be around 25 per cent of the range. So, it’s a lot higher than we had originally anticipated. We’re quite happy with that take-up (as it has allowed us to offer) that expansion down through the range.
“We’ll then see that happens with ICE (share) into the future”.
While Ms McMahon did not provide individual sales splits between Honda variants, the percentage stated would indicate year-to-date sales of approximately 154 Civic e:HEV variants, 476 HR-V e:HEV variants, 957 CR-V e:HEV variants, and 749 ZR-V e:HEV variants.
