HONDA MOTOR CO PLANS TO INTRODUCE A NEW SMALL HYBRID MODEL IN 2009, DPA QUOTED THE SOURCES OF THE COMPANY AS SAYING WEDNESDAY. HONDA EXPECTS TO SELL 200,000 UNITS PER YEAR GLOBALLY OF THE NEW MODEL, WHICH WILL RUN ON GASOLINE AND ELECTRICITY. HONDA PRESIDENT TAKEO FUKUI SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE COMPANY PLANS TO MARKET THE NEW MODEL AT A MORE ACCESSIBLE PRICE THAN THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WITH THE RELEASE OF THE NEW HYBRID, HONDA HOPES TO CATCH UP WITH PRODUCTION OF PRIUS, MADE BY JAPAN'S LARGEST AUTOMAKER, TOYOTA MOTOR CORP.
