MALSBURY, England -- Honda says its new e:NY1 small electric SUV must account for a fifth of the automaker's overall sales in the U.K. -- its largest European market -- next year. If Honda fails, it faces fines under the country's mandated electric vehicle sales target.
"This is one of the most important product launches we have had in many years," Honda's head of product and business planning in the U.K., Andrew Winfield, said.
Honda's current lineup in Europe is mostly hybrids. Its only other full-electric model, the premium-priced Honda e city car, has not been a strong seller.