Honda has stopped marketing its hybrid models in Europe

Honda will stop marketing its Insight hybrid and CRZ hybrid models in Europe due to insufficient sales. The manufacturer sold only 1 242 Insight models in the European market in 2013, down 62% compared to 2012, and only 695 CRZ, down 66%. Since 1999, when the first hybrid models from Honda were launched in Europe, the carmaker sold just over 102 000 vehicles of this type in Europe.


Its direct competitor, Toyota, sold over 480 000 hybrid vehicles in Europe over the same period (including 377 000 under the Toyota brand and 106 000 under the Lexus brand).


The failure of Honda hybrid models versus Toyota may be explained by several reasons:

Toyota launched its first hybrid model in 1997 thanks to a car positioned on a segment with a large volume of potential sales : C segment. Honda launched its hybrid two years later on a niche segment, the segment of small coupes.

The Prius was then renewed in 2004 with upgraded amenities (segment D) while the Honda Insight was renewed in 2009 by a C-segment sedan, a completely new model.

The Prius "Fashion" launched thanks to the second generation of the car, was particularly strong in the U.S., which boosted the image of the vehicle.

The diversification of the Prius range (Prius, Prius +, Prius C) while Honda was limited to two vehicles (Insight and CRZ).


In fact, Toyota invested heavily in hybrid technology and acquired a near monopoly position in this segment, which was not the case of Honda, that is currently designing a new line of hybrid cars.


14-09-9  

Contact us: info@inovev.com 

 

Inovev platforms  >
Not yet registered ?
By keeping on browsing, on this site, you accept the use of cookies and TCU (Terms and Conditions of Use) of Inovev site (www.inovev.com)
Ok