Honda boss asks engineers to speed up next Insight, working on larger hybrids

2010 Honda Insight

There is no hiding the hybrid wars between Honda and Toyota and their hybrid models, the Insight and Prius. In hopes, to overtake the Prius for once and for all, Honda President Takanobu Ito challenged his engineers to speed up the launch of the next-generation Honda Insight hybrid, which has been a major sales disappointment.

He said he wants the next-generation Insight to beat the Prius in terms of fuel economy.

Honda, which has not capitalized on Toyota’s recall issues and lost U.S. market share, has grown “complacent” and needs to refocus on better products and stronger marketing, Ito said.

“I’m not satisfied,” he said of American Honda Motor Co.’s slide to a 10.1 percent share of the U.S. market in the first quarter, from 10.5 percent a year earlier.

Ito says he is also working on rolling out a new hybrid strategy for larger vehicles as well.

Click here to read our review of the 2010 Honda Insight.

Review: 2010 Honda Insight:

Review: 2010 Honda Insight Review: 2010 Honda Insight Review: 2010 Honda Insight Review: 2010 Honda Insight

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– By: Kap Shah

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)