Honda pledges to only sell electric cars in Europe by 2025

Every new Honda car sold in Europe will be electrified by 2025, the Japanese manufacturer has announced.

This builds on a previous ambition for two-thirds of its sales having a form of electrification by that date.

It aims to achieve the tougher commitment through a combination of plug-in hybrid and pure electric cars.

A general view of the Honda plant in Swindon
A general view of the Honda plant in Swindon

Honda revealed last month that it will shut its factory in Swindon in 2021 as the “significant challenges of electrification” mean it must “revise its global manufacturing operations”.

The plant employs 3,500 workers, but at least as many work for companies across the country which supply the car maker with parts and services.

Honda announced its ambition on electrified car sales at the Geneva Motor Show, where it unveiled a prototype for a new battery-powered hatchback designed for urban commuters.

A Honda electric vehicle
A Honda electric vehicle

Tom Gardner, senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said: “Since we made that first pledge in March 2017, the shift towards electrification has gathered pace considerably.

“Environmental challenges continue to drive demand for cleaner mobility. Technology marches on unrelenting and people are starting to shift their view of the car itself.”

Demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles such as hybrids and pure electrics in the UK increased by 34.0% year-on-year last month to take a market share of 5.5%.

The Department for Transport has announced a plan to ban new diesel and petrol cars and vans in the UK from 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution.

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