Honda To Launch New Hybrid Next Year

Honda Motor Co. says it will introduce an all-new dedicated hybrid next year that will be built and sold in the U.S.

The company announced the vehicle at the Detroit auto show without providing any other details. Media reports speculate that the vehicle could be an updated version of the Insight hybrid that was discontinued in 2014.

Honda says more than half the new vehicles it plans to launch in the next two years will have an electrified powertrain. This will include a hybrid light truck and all-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the Clarity fuel cell vehicle. The carmaker expects to eventually derive two-thirds of its sales from electrified models.

Honda launched the redesigned Clarity fuel-cell vehicle last month in California. Sales of the plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions will start later this year. While the PHEV is a 50-state model, the EV will be limited to California and nine other states that have adopted similar zero-emission-vehicle requirements.