Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • login
  • HOME
  • News
    • News by Brand
    • Auto Shows
    • Canadians Abroad
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Dealer Best Practices
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • Stellantis
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Fiat Chrysler
      • Jeep
      • Fiat
      • Lancia
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Subaru
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
    • Volvo
    • VinFast
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
  • Video
  • Podcasts
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
    • 2022 Canadians To Watch
    • 2022 Diversity Champions
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
    • Leading Women Roundtables
    • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
    • EVs Decoded
  • Jobs & Classifieds
  • +MORE
    • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
    • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
    • WEBINARS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • PUBLISHING PARTNERS
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Electric Vehicles
June 28, 2021 06:00 AM

Honda Canada CEO on the 'reset of our electrification strategy'

The delayed Canadian launch of the CR-V Hybrid was a consequence of a push for profitability

Kelly Taylor
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Honda

    The CR-V Hybrid arrives in late 2022.

    For the Canadian market, Honda’s global transition to producing only zero-emissions vehicles by 2040 begins with a step backward before taking two leaps forward with the 2023 CR-V Hybrid and the 2024 Prologue, a full-electric crossover.

    The CR-V Hybrid arrives in late 2022 and takes the place of the Clarity plug-in hybrid, which will be cancelled this year. The future of the Insight hybrid is also uncertain.

    The company’s focus going forward is on profitability, to maximize its investment in research for its shift to zero emissions, Honda Canada CEO Jean Marc Leclerc said in a recent interview. 

    Clarity “was not a profitable vehicle for us,” he said, noting that the decision to cancel the car was global. “I’d call it a reset of our electrification strategy.”

    The delayed Canadian launch of the CR-V Hybrid, which has been on sale in the United States since last year, was also a consequence of that push for profitability. “For us, we made the difficult decision at the time that we were going to forgo the CR-V Hybrid for that reason. Just to make sure that we were able to meet the company’s commitment to profitability, Leclerc said.

    “As you can well imagine, for the very ambitious plans we have, it requires a tremendous amount of resources.”

    Honda’s global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced last week the company would stop producing vehicles with internal combustion engines in phases, with zero-emission vehicles comprising 40 per cent of sales by 2030, 80 per cent by 2035 and 100 per cent by 2040.

    Those ambitious plans include making Honda self-sufficient on the supply of components for electric vehicles, including the development of solid-state batteries, seen as the next frontier in lightweight, long-range and easily charged power cells.

    Electrifying crossovers has worked for one of Honda’s key rivals, Toyota. Its RAV4 Hybrid now comprises 25 per cent of total sales. 

    Considering the shift in North America to light trucks and crossovers (82 per cent of the Canadian market in 2020, according to Statistics Canada), expect Honda’s focus on electrification in North America to be on crossovers, Leclerc said. He comments lower expectations that the Honda e concept compact hatchback unveiled in 2020, would appear in production form here, even if green-lighted elsewhere in the world.

    “People are interested in moving towards electrification. People are not prepared to compromise from what they want out of their vehicles today,” he said. “North America is carving its own path to electrification.

    “That’s not to imply we’re going to get rid of the passenger car, which is pretty deeply implanted in Honda DNA, but we need to make sure we’re giving people what they want.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Suzuki taps two-speed transmission by Canada's Inmotive to power EVs
    Recommended for You
    Inmotive Ingear Transmission
    Suzuki taps two-speed transmission by Canada's Inmotive to power EVs
    MANCHIN-01_i.jpg
    Proposed bill would immediately cut off U.S. credits for EVs that don't meet battery rules
    Hyundai Kona Electric rtrs web.jpg
    Canadian ZEV registrations jump to another record high in Q3
    Left to right: Farid Ahmad, Peter Heasty, Landon Robertson
    Sponsored Content: EXPERT INSIGHTS: Buy/Sell Trends
    Digital Edition
    Jan 2023 Issue
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Now

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Ave
    Detroit MI 48207

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    ISSN 2475-5001 (print)
    ISSN 2475-501X (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Canada
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • News
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Ferrari
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • Stellantis
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Fiat Chrysler
          • Jeep
          • Fiat
          • Lancia
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Subaru
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
        • Volvo
        • VinFast
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Canadians Abroad
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Dealer Best Practices
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • 2022 Auto News Canada All-Stars
      • 2022 Canadians To Watch
      • 2022 Diversity Champions
      • Best Dealerships To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
      • Leading Women Roundtables
      • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
      • EVs Decoded
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • +MORE
      • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
      • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
      • WEBINARS
      • ADVERTISE WITH US
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION
      • PUBLISHING PARTNERS