Honda Australia was the first automotive company to introduce a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle when the Honda Insight made its debut here in 2001.
In 2004 the Civic Hybrid became Australia’s most affordable hybrid car. Now, on the eve of World Environment Day, Honda Australia has announced it will be providing two Honda Civic Hybrids to car sharing service Flexicar, as a contribution to sustainable driving.
Car sharing is itself a fast-growing international trend which began in the 1980s. Flexicar was founded in 2005 with the Honda Jazz comprising a majority of its fleet. The company now recognises the need to introduce hybrid vehicles for its customers in response to their concerns about environmental issues and the rising cost of petrol.
Honda Australia Senior Director, Lindsay Smalley said this initiative epitomises Honda’s philosophy of leaving blue skies for our children, which was the vision of our founder Mr. Soichiro Honda. Clever technology has always been the way at Honda, while the strongly held views that small can be beautiful and that less can be more have always prevailed.
“We now sell the country’s most affordable hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid and we are set to launch the world’s most affordable hybrid, the second-generation Honda Insight, in Australia in 2010.” Sharing a mutual commitment to sustainability, Flexicar CEO and founder, Monique Conheady said Honda is the perfect partner for this initiative.
“Honda’s industry leading position in hybrid technology made it the preferred choice. The majority of our fleet is made up of the Honda Jazz, due to its fuel efficiency and low emissions, so to now add a hybrid to our fleet is a huge step forward for us,” Ms. Conheady said.
The uniquely branded Honda Civic Hybrid was unveiled today in Melbourne by renowned fashion designer and Civic Hybrid driver, Akira Isogawa.
Akira took the first drive of the Melbourne-based vehicle, which will be located outside Flagstaff Gardens for the next two months, before moving to another inner city location.
Akira joins an impressive list of high profile celebrities who have made the switch to environmentally responsible driving, including zero emission, hydrogen powered Honda FCX Clarity drivers: Hollywood actress Jamie Lee Curtis; actress and Environmental Youth Leader Q’orianka Kilcher, who played Pocahontas in the movie “The New World”; Laura Harris from television show 24; and film producer Ron Yerxa.
Victorians are not the only ones set to benefit from the initiative, the second Honda Civic Hybrid will be located in Surry Hills, Sydney, with both vehicles available to Flexicar customers for the next 12 months.
