SHANGHAI, China — Honda Motor will delay its plans to produce the Civic Hybrid model in China in 2009.
Liu Yuhe, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Honda Automobile, said the Civic Hybrid will not go into production in 2009 as scheduled, "partly because no detailed and preferential policies have been issued."
Chinese authorities have been collecting opinions from automakers about incentives for "new energy" cars. Whether the incentives should be offered now, and which measures would be effective in making the cars acceptable for consumers, are issues being hotly debated.
Honda started selling the imported Civic Hybrid at the end of last year to gather market reaction before beginning local production. The 1.3-liter model is priced at $39,550, with an annual sales target of 200 units.
Postponing Chinese production will not change Honda's determination to bring hybrid technology to China and to realize local production eventually, Liu said, without giving a timetable.
What this means to you: The world's second-largest car market, it seems, is still not mature enough to welcome eco-friendly vehicles. — Vivian Jin, Correspondent
Liu Yuhe, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Honda Automobile, said the Civic Hybrid will not go into production in 2009 as scheduled, "partly because no detailed and preferential policies have been issued."
Chinese authorities have been collecting opinions from automakers about incentives for "new energy" cars. Whether the incentives should be offered now, and which measures would be effective in making the cars acceptable for consumers, are issues being hotly debated.
Honda started selling the imported Civic Hybrid at the end of last year to gather market reaction before beginning local production. The 1.3-liter model is priced at $39,550, with an annual sales target of 200 units.
Postponing Chinese production will not change Honda's determination to bring hybrid technology to China and to realize local production eventually, Liu said, without giving a timetable.
What this means to you: The world's second-largest car market, it seems, is still not mature enough to welcome eco-friendly vehicles. — Vivian Jin, Correspondent
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