Honda Motor : Honda Begins Sales of All-New Freed Series including Freed Hybrid and Freed Spike Hybrid

TOKYO, Japan, October 27, 2011 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced it would begin sales of the all-new Freed Hybrid minivan and Freed Spike Hybrid tall wagon at dealerships across Japan on October 28, 2011. Like all models in the acclaimed Freed series, these new hybrids offer a spacious, comfortable interior and a large cargo area in a compact body. Both models will combine a smooth ride with outstanding fuel economy and affordable price, as with any Honda hybrid vehicle. The refreshed Freed and Freed Spike gasoline-engine models will also become available on October 28. Furthermore, Honda will launch a new range of Freed special-needs vehicles on November 25, including a wheelchair-accessible model with a newly developed electric winch, a side lift-up seat model, and a passenger lift-up seat model.

The Freed Hybrid and Freed Spike Hybrid will be Japan's first 5-number class minivan and tall wagon hybrid vehicles.*1 Thanks to a combination of advanced packaging technology and Honda's lightweight, compact IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, the new models offer all of the comfort and utility of the Freed series while featuring one of the best fuel economy among 5-number class minivans and tall wagons:*2 21.6 km/L as measured in JC08 mode and 24.0 km/L as measured in 10·15 mode.*3 In addition, all hybrid models and front-wheel-drive gasoline engine models of the refreshed lineup qualify for Japan's eco-car tax incentives.

Honda's unique packaging technologies and the lightweight, compact IMA hybrid system is an ideal combination to meet our goals to provide our customers with accessible hybrid technology and a wide range of hybrid vehicles models. Currently in Japan, more than one-third of registered Honda automobiles are hybrid vehicles.*4