Honda in talks with India to prepare hybrid sales

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co said on Friday it has entered talks with Indian authorities over the establishment of regulations to allow the sale of gasoline-electric hybrid cars.   

India, one of the world's fastest-growing car markets, has no regulations in place governing hybrid cars, which get better mileage than conventional gasoline-engine vehicles.   

"We have just begun discussions with the ministry of heavy industries," a spokeswoman at Honda's office near New Delhi said.

"Once the laws are in place, we can consider when and how we can begin sales."   

Honda sells the Civic hybrid, its sole gasoline-electric model, in Japan, North America and Europe. The car can get up to 80 percent better mileage than the Civic's similar-sized gasoline model.   

Indian drivers are some of the most fuel- and cost-conscious in the world, and are increasingly choosing diesel-powered cars over gasoline due to their superior efficiency.   

Honda executives have said that hybrids were a possibility for India, but that they may be a hard sell without state subsidies since they cost more than cars powered by gasoline or diesel.   

Honda sells the City, Accord and Civic sedans and the CR-V crossover in India, all only on the gasoline powertrain.