HONDA CEO UNVEILS CIVIC HATCHBACK PROTOTYPE: THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS 200,000 SALES IN EUROPE

• Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo unveils the all-new Civic Hatchback Prototype at 2016 Geneva Motor Show
• New prototype is the next step in Honda’s European plan to achieve annual sales of 200,000 units
• New Jazz, HR-V & Civic Type R drive predicted 2016 sales in excess of 160,000 units
• Honda also confirms further details of the European launch of NSX and Clarity Fuel Cell

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo made his first appearance at a European motor show to unveil the new Civic Hatchback Prototype. The prototype was the focus of Honda’s activity at Geneva, following one of its busiest periods of new product introduction in 2015.

The new prototype previews the 10^th generation Civic hatchback, set for a European launch in early 2017. To be built at Honda’s flagship European manufacturing facility in UK, the prototype promises provocative design, assertive dynamics and a range of all-new turbo petrol engines, aimed at the core of the European compact segment.

During today’s press conference, Honda highlighted the renewed confidence within the European business following the launch of new Jazz, HR-V & Civic Type R in 2015. With over 18,000 orders across Europe for these vehicles, Honda is confident that 2016 volumes will reach 160,000 units. This is an expected increase of 17 per cent compared to 2015, and a significant step towards its long-term goal of 200,000 annual European sales.

Details of two further European product launches in 2016 were also confirmed at the show. Following the announcement of US pricing details at Detroit Motor Show in January, European pricing for NSX will start from around €180,000 and deliveries will commence from autumn.

At the other end of the technology spectrum, Clarity Fuel Cell will also arrive on European roads in September, initially through limited lease sales as part of the HyFIVE programme in UK and Denmark. This first step towards commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell technology in Europe will provide valuable data on customer usage and expectations.

ENDS