Honda is speeding up efforts to introduce electric motorcycles, with plans to roll out at least 10 models worldwide by 2025 as part of the company¡¯s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the coming decades.
The carmaker, which also has the biggest global market share in two-wheelers, set a target to make all of its bikes carbon neutral before the middle of the century, according to a statement on Tuesday.
The expansion of its electric motorcycle operation could lead to a separate stock-market listing for the business, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Honda is in early stage considerations over whether to separate the unit and list some shares, the newspaper said, citing a company executive.
A representative for Honda in the United States had no immediate comment when contacted by Bloomberg.
The plan to introduce new models is the latest from Japan¡¯s top automakers as they outline efforts to expand sales of electric vehicles, a market where they¡¯ve typically lagged behind other global manufacturers, particularly those in China and in Europe. Last month, Honda unveiled plans with South Korea¡¯s LG Energy Solution to spend $4.4 billion on a new battery plant in the U.S. as it seeks to phase out fossil-fuel vehicles completely by 2040.
¡°We are speedily working to realize carbon neutrality¡± Kohei Takeuchi, executive vice president of Honda, said at a briefing on Tuesday.
Honda is aiming to boost annual sales of electric motorcycles to 1 million units within the next five years, and 3.5 million units in 2030, equivalent to 15% of total sales. Electric motorcycles currently account for less than 0.5% of Honda¡¯s total sales, according to Takeuchi.
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