Toyota and Honda Plan to Sell Hybrid Electric Cars Outside US

Toyota and Honda, two of Japan’s biggest automakers, are considering selling electric cars outside of the US as the demand for environmentally friendly vehicles sky rockets. Japan and Europe are also in need of more commuter-friendly vehicles. Both companies are considering selling to these countries, though Toyota’s Executive VP said in a different event that it would only sell its short-range battery powered cars outside of the United States if there was a need to.

Honda’s spokesperson announced that Honda may begin selling a similar car in California, in order to meet the zero-emission vehicle requirements. GM and Nissan are also considering selling electric vehicles as more and more governments the globe over give out incentives for fuel-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles.
Nissan plans to make its big break into the environmentally friendly line in the second half of next year with it’s fully electric car, Leaf. GM has its sights set on November 2010 as a starting point for their new Chevrolet Volt.

Toyota’s idea is to begin selling electric cars to the US in 2012. (Jumping in quite a bit later than most of the other big companies). Honda has decided to look more into battery power, as it will undoubtedly hamper the sales of hydrogen fuel vehicles (which were the main focus of zero-emission cars until recently). Honda plans to put forth an electric concept car (EV-N) soon.