CONTENTSGlobal Environmental Data

Honda deems it its mission to manufacture products with the highest environmental performance using the most efficient production system.
In this section, we report the environmental performance of automobiles in four major regions, global CO2 emissions from major factories and other examples of our environmental efforts overseas.

Through its unique technologies, Honda introduces products that demonstrate environmental performance that exceeds the legal standards established in each country for the reduction of exhaust emissions and improvement of fuel economy. We are willing to contribute to the achievement of a sustainable mobility society by meeting people’s mobility needs while minimizing the environmental impacts caused by our products. In the product domain, we are implementing measures based on the following three approaches.

1. Further improvements in the reduction of exhaust emissions from internal-combustion engines and increased fuel economy
2. Evolution of hybrid vehicles
3. Promotion of alternative fuel-powered vehicles

In the U.S., Honda achieved the highest corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) for its entire vehicle fleet of any automobile maker. For cleaner exhaust gas, Honda has always provided the U.S. market with low emission vehicles with higher performance than what is required by emission regulations. Specifically, we introduced the first gasoline-powered low emission vehicles (LEVs), ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) and super ultra low emission vehicles (SULEVs) in the market. At present, at least 60% of Honda/Acura branded vehicles meet or exceed the Tier II/bin 5 exhaust gas standard (NOx: 0.07 g/mile). In December 2004, based on the achievement of high fuel economy and cleaner exhaust gas from these Honda vehicles, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) named Honda the 2004 Greenest Automaker.

In Europe, Honda developed and released models with high fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and clean diesel vehicles to meet the industry’s voluntary emission standard for average fuel economy (CO2 emissions: 140 g/km) by 2009.

In Thailand, Honda locally produced Jazz has already achieved the EURO-IV emission regulation standards to be introduced in the future. As a result, in the period from January to December 2004, 40% of the vehicles sold by Honda meet the EURO-IV regulation standards.

In China, Honda has already achieved the EURO-III regulation standards to be gradually implemented in Beijing from November 2005 for all the models sold in the market.

Honda released the Insight in November 1999, the first hybrid car equipped with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) System that achieved the world’s highest fuel economy* as a mass-produced gasoline-powered vehicle. In North America, Honda subsequently began marketing of the Civic Hybrid in April 2002 (in December 2001 in Japan), and the Accord Hybrid in December 2004, adopting Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system for its V6 engine. Its Suzuka and Saitama Factories in Japan manufacture Honda’s hybrid cars. Honda sells the Civic Hybrid, its best-selling hybrid model, in 19 countries in North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia and Oceania regions.
In April 2005, Honda passed the 100,000 unit milestone in global sales of hybrid cars (approx. 89,000 in the U.S, 5,900 in Japan, 3,800 in Europe, and 1,500 in Canada) .

In order to promote use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels, Honda leased a total of 19 FCX fuel cell vehicles in Japan and the U.S. We are also trying to expand sales of the Civic GX, our natural gas-powered vehicle, in North America.
Additionally, for facilities to supply alternative fuels, we are promoting the development of hydrogen stations and the introduction of affordable fueling equipment for natural gas-powered vehicles for household use. Honda is thus playing a leading role in the promotion of alternative fuel-powered vehicles.

In the production domain, Honda is promoting its Green Factory Plan to develop its factories into new manufacturing operations suitable for a recycling-based society. To this end, we are also expanding our energy conservation and waste reduction activities to our overseas plants.
For fiscal 2004, CO2 emissions, the amount of waste sent to off-site landfills, and the water use were calculated for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and its major affiliates. The calculation results are tabulated in the graphs shown on the right.
In the fiscal 2004 tabulation, 43 companies (Honda Motor and affiliates in which Honda Motor holds at least a 50% share) are included. For details, please see Segments Covered by the Report.