Twelve years and 11 months ago, Honda Motor Company sold its first Insight Hybrid to a member of the public. What that humble little car did was start a trend that has been going strong for more than a decade. At the end of September 2012, Honda hit a massive milestone that couldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for that car that started it all. Globally, the Japanese automaker has sold more than one million hybrid vehicles.
Currently, Honda sells eight hybrid models to approximately 50 countries around the globe. In the U.S., vehicles such as the Civic Hybrid, Insight, CR-Z and Acura ILX can be had while the next generation Accord Hybrid is fast approaching. In other markets, the Jazz Hybrid is making a stand in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. Since 1999, there has been a Honda Hybrid available but it wasn’t until the late 2000s that the company really hit home with their Integrated Motor Assist (IMA).
By the end of 2010, the number of gasoline/electric Hondas sold globally was up to 600,000 units. One year later and following the introduction of the CR-Z and Fit (Jazz) Hybrid, that number shot up 200,000 units. Nine months later, that number skyrocketed once again and by the end of September 2012, Honda had achieved mighty fine goal.
Source: Honda
