Keeping production costs low for hybrid engines is getting more and more difficult, as they use rare-earth metals and China produces 90% of the world's supply. And with the projected cost of these metals going up by 14% every year, our favorite Japanese automaker is working on an alternative way of making hybrid engines.
Using a lighter material called neodymium, Honda hopes that it will reduce the cost of production and make the engines lighter as well. This benefits them as well as drives all across the earth! This new technology is set to be used in the Honda Freed - a hybrid minivan that will be released in Japan later this year. We'll be crossing our fingers that the new process is successful and hope that the Freed comes to western shores later on.
Keep an eye on our blog for more details about upcoming vehicles in the new Honda model lineup. In the meantime, make our San Jose, CA dealership your next stop and we'll make you our next satisfied customer. No matter which one of our vehicles appeals to you, we'll give you all the details so you can make a driving decision with confidence.
