http://auto.com/targetnews/articles/Automotive/05_31_2001.reutr-story-
T84817.html
Honda mulls more diesel engine models for Europe
TOKYO, May 31 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T>, Japan's
third-largest carmaker in terms of output, said on Thursday it is
considering using diesel engines in Europe for other models after
fitting them in its Civic and Accord cars.
"We need to introduce diesel-engine in cars in Europe in
addition to the planned Civic and Accord models," Honda President
Hiroyuki Yoshino told Reuters in an interview.
In mid-May, Honda said it would start in November to produce
Civic models equipped with diesel engines made by Isuzu Motors Ltd's
<7202.T> Polish unit.
In addition, Honda said it is developing its own turbo-charged
diesel engine for use in a successor to the Accord luxury sedan in
Europe, with a launch date in 2003.
Demand for diesel engine cars has been rising in Europe year by
year due to their lower emissions of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas
than gasoline engines.
Honda is prudent about commercialising hybrid cars other than
the Insight two-seater hybrid coupe and planned Civic because hybrid
cars are expensive, Yoshino said.
Honda is scheduled to introduce hybrid-engined Civic compact
cars in December in Japan and in the United States next year.
Top Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> is planning to
launch the hybrid minivan Estima in June in Japan after the success
of its first hybrid, the Prius compact sedan.
Hybrid cars, powered by smaller engines with electric motors and
a battery pack, promise to cut emissions and fuel consumption.
Toyota, which now sells the Prius in Japan, the United States
and Europe, had sold a total of 60,000 units by April since its
launch in December 1997, while Honda, which also sells the Insight in
Japan, the United States, Canada and Europe, had sold more than 7,500
units by April since its launch in November 1999.
Japanese weekly business magazine Toyo Keizai reported in its
latest edition that Honda planned to eventually boost car production
in China to an annual 240,000 units, introducing the 1.1- to
1.3-litre Logo model in summer 2003 after launching the Odyssey
minivan there.
The Toyo Keizai also said the Chinese-made Logo will be marketed
not only in China but also in Europe, aiming to boost sales there.
Honda posted a 23.3 percent fall in car sales in Europe in 2000/01.
Honda said recently it was planning to produce the popular
Odyssey minivan at its Chinese unit Guangzhou Honda Automobile
sometime in the future.
The Chinese unit aims to produce 50,000 Accords in 2001 after
32,000 in 2000.
Asked if Honda will launch a compact car in China in the future,
Yoshino said: "Honda will decide models to be marketed in China by
looking at the Chinese market, Chinese government policy and customer
demand."
On Wednesday, ratings agency Standard & Poor's Corp raised the
outlook on its long-term corporate credit rating on Honda to positive
from stable while affirming single-"A" long-term and single-"A-1"
short-term ratings on the company.
Shares in Honda closed at 5,000 yen in Tokyo on Thursday, down
0.99 percent, while the benchmark Nikkei average <.N225> ended down
1.71 percent.
Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited.
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