by
Autonet Insurance
| Jul 21, 2010
Honda is hopping on the green motoring bandwagon with a new electric car planned for 2012.
Rivals Nissan and Toyota have already announced they are working on electric vehicles, which are gaining popularity not just for their environmental benefits but also for their lower motoring and car insurance costs.
Honda president Takanobu Ito declared that clean, green technologies will be a key area of focus for the company in coming years.
He said: "Honda has no future unless we achieve significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The next 10 years will be a true test for Honda's survival."
Mr Ito did not give details of the new car, which will initially be made available in the US and Japan.
The Japanese firm, which already makes Insight and CR-Z hybrids, is also planning to add a new plug-in hybrid to the line-up.
Toyota is expected to bring out its electric car in 2012, while Nissan has already begun taking orders for its Leaf electric car, some of which will be built at its Sunderland plant. Mitsubishi began selling its mass-produced electric vehicle, the iMiEV, earlier this year.
© Press Association 2010