HONDA HYBRIDS TOP 100,000
23 May 2005 - Honda

Sales of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) petrol electric cars have rocketed past the 100,000 mark in just six years, confirming that the new petrol electric technology is becoming mainstream

To date, America has been the biggest market for Honda’s clean air vehicles, accounting for almost 90% of Honda’s global hybrid sales: last year the company sold more than 27,000 Insight, Civic and Accord IMAs in America alone.

But Britain has been an important secondary market. Alone the UK accounts for more than half of Honda IMA sales in Europe, with more than 2000 sold here since September 2000. And right now, more Civic IMAs are sold in Britain than are sold in Japan, where the model is produced!

Sales of Honda’s petrol electric models began in Britain with the launch of the Insight 2-seat Coupe, in September 2000. This was followed by the Civic IMA, which debuted in May 2003. The petrol electric Civic combines the functionality and equipment of the regular Civic with Honda’s high-efficiency IMA technology, the first truly mainstream production car to do so.

''We are pleased to see more and more British customers embracing IMA technology as a means of improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and helping the environment,'' says Honda’s Environment Manager, John Kingston.

The Civic IMA is the world’s first petrol-electric car based on an existing mainstream platform.
IMA stands for ‘Integrated Motor Assist’. For the Civic, Honda’s unique petrol electric hybrid system uses a 10kW electric motor/generator working in tandem with a high-efficiency 1.4 litre petrol engine.
Civic IMA achieves an EU Combined fuel consumption of 57.6 mpg and 116 g/km CO2 emissions (the lowest of any vehicle in its class).
Civic IMA benefits from 12% BIK tax for company car drivers, while the model also qualifies for the second lowest (Band B) VED rate at £65 a year.
To demonstrate the robustness and long term durability of the IMA system
Honda (UK) recently added a 100,000 mile old Honda Insight to its press fleet. This ex-privately owned car continues to rack up the miles, still on its original powertrain, battery and IMA components.

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