Honda to Bring Clean Diesels to the US, adding Hybrids

Honda says that they will soon release its first ultra-clean diesels in the US. The clean diesels don’t require a urea tank, instead they produce ammonia in the drivetrain and store it in the catalytic converter. The new clean diesel technology will also meet the same emission regulations as gasoline engines. Starting in 2009, Honda will start using diesel four-cylinder engines in its Acura brand at first. In 2010 a V-6 model will follow. Honda expects its annual worldwide diesel sales to go from 100,000 in Europe only, to 150,000 by 2010 when adding the U.S. market.

In addition to bringing diesels, Honda also plans to bring low cost hybrid models. Honda has struggled to profit from hybrid cars in the past, but says that the new models will be as profitable as their gas only counter parts. Honda plans to produce 200,000 hybrids, half of those marked for North American delivery. Currently, all of Honda’s hybrids are produced in Japan. That could change says Honda’s Takeo Fukui, “We may be thinking about local production [in North America] around 2011 or 2012 when our global hybrid sales reach 400,000 to 500,000 cars a year, but we don’t think it’s all that important.” In addition to the new low cost hybrids, Honda is also planning a hybrid sports car to follow with the new hybrid system.

+ New Zealand Herald Online