Honda Targets 60% Hybrid Civic Sales in Canada as New Model Enters Production

In a significant move for Canada's automotive industry, Honda has commenced production of the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan at its Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) plant in Alliston, Ontario. This milestone marks the first time the Civic Hybrid has been manufactured on Canadian soil, signalling a new era in the country's automotive landscape.

A New Chapter for the Civic

The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is set to play a crucial role in Honda's lineup, with projections suggesting it will account for approximately 60% of all Civic sales in Canada. This hybrid model represents a key step in Honda's electrification strategy, bridging the gap between traditional combustion engines and fully electric vehicles.

While specific technical specifications are yet to be released, industry experts anticipate that the Civic Hybrid will offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions compared to its non-hybrid counterpart, without compromising on the performance and reliability that have made the Civic a perennial favourite among Canadian drivers.

Honda's Electrification Roadmap

The production of the Civic Hybrid aligns with Honda's ambitious vision for electrification. The company aims to have battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its North American vehicle sales by 2040. This goal underscores the importance of hybrid vehicles in Honda's transition strategy.

To support this shift, Honda has invested $1.38 billion in upgrading HCM's facilities for hybrid production. This substantial investment demonstrates Honda's commitment to modernizing its manufacturing capabilities and adapting to the changing automotive landscape.

HCM: A Hub of Innovation

The HCM plant in Alliston, Ontario, has undergone significant upgrades to accommodate the production of hybrid vehicles. The retooling of production lines not only ensures the facility's readiness for hybrid manufacturing but also has a positive economic impact on the local community.

Bobbi Curran, Vice President of Honda of Canada Mfg., emphasized the importance of this development: "With the Civic Hybrid, all of our 4200 associates at Honda of Canada Manufacturing are now involved with Honda's electrification strategy. Hybrid production is an important step that transitions us to the EV future."

Community Impact and Employment

The introduction of hybrid production at HCM has maintained thousands of well-paying jobs in Alliston and throughout Honda's Canadian supplier network. The company has also implemented enhanced job training initiatives and expanded inclusive hiring practices, further benefiting the local workforce.

Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO of Honda Canada Inc., highlighted the broader impact: "Honda of Canada Manufacturing is a proud, Canadian innovation story that invests strategically in technology and its associates on the path to electrification."

Future Plans: A Comprehensive EV Value Chain

Looking ahead, Honda has unveiled plans to establish a comprehensive EV value chain in Canada. This ambitious project includes the construction of four new plants, with two to be built alongside existing facilities in Alliston.

The proposed EV plant is expected to have a production capacity of 240,000 EVs per year, while the EV battery plant will boast a capacity of 36 GWh annually. These new facilities are projected to create a minimum of 1,000 new jobs, in addition to securing the current employment level of 4,200 associates at Honda's existing Ontario manufacturing facilities.