Honda, the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, has announced that it will realise carbon neutrality for all its motorcycle products during the 2040s as the primary focus of environmental strategies for the motorcycle business while continuing to advance internal combustion engines (ICE).

Under the plan, Honda will introduce at least ten electric motorcycle models globally by 2025. The Japanese motorcycle maker aims to increase its annual sales of electric models to one million motorcycles within the next five years, and 3.5 million units, equivalent to 15 per cent of its total unit sales, by 2030.

By 2050, Honda aims to realise carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in, the company announced at a press briefing regarding its motorcycle business initiatives led by Kohei Takeuchi, director, executive vice president and representative executive officer, and Yoshishige Nomura, managing officer.

Addressing various market segments of the motorcycle industry, Honda said to fulfil the increasing demand for business use, it will accelerate the global launch of business-use electric motorcycles.

In addition to providing the Honda e:Business Bike series model to Japan Post and Vietnam Post Corporation for mail delivery, Honda is currently conducting joint trials with Thailand Post Company Limited and planning to begin production and sales of the Benly e: in Thailand before the end of this month.

Currently, electric mopeds (EMs) and electric bicycles (EBs) account for more than 90 per cent of industry-wide global electric motorcycle unit sales (approximately 50 million units). In China, the world’s largest electric motorcycle market, EMs/EBs are widely adopted as a convenient form of everyday mobility. Honda has been offering such products by leveraging its local supplier infrastructure and development/manufacturing operations.

With the expectation that demand for EMs/EBs will expand globally, Honda plans to introduce five compact and affordable EM and EB models between now and 2024 across Asia, Europe and Japan, and China.

In addition to electric commuter vehicles (EVs), Honda is actively developing electrified models in the “FUN” category. Based on its FUN EV platform currently under development, Honda plans to introduce three large-size FUN EV models in Japan, the US and Europe between 2024 and 2025. In addition, Honda will also introduce Kids Fun EV model, designed to pass on the joy of riding to the next generation.

Following the direction of Honda global, Honda Vietnam also strives to take the initiative to realise a sustainable mobility society in Viet Nam. Towards this objective, Honda Vietnam (HVN) has already started studying the customer needs for EV product development and building up the infrastructures for future EV society in Viet Nam. One of Honda’s activities is collaborating with the Vietnamese Postal service in doing an EV Rental project with Honda Benly e: The project has received valuable evaluation data from users, which is a meaningful source to study the feasibility of the EV future.

Last year, HVN and the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers collaborated with the University of Technology to develop Vietnamese standards for swappable batteries, which step by step together with the Government in building the standardised batteries for electric vehicles in harmony with international standards. Honda Vietnam strives to build a comprehensive eco-friendly mobility roadmap for future EV society through these activities. — VNS