Shanghai (ZXZC)- Dongfeng Honda is expected to start deploying NEVs (new energy vehicles) in 2019, according to local media. Its third plant in Wuhan of Hubei Province is set to be put into operation next year.

The Wuhan-based new plant will manufacture Honda CR-V vehicles first and produce Honda-branded HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) and BEVs (battery electric vehicles) afterwards, according to Zheng Chunkai, executive vice manager of Dongfeng Honda.

“Dongfeng Honda's third plant is going to introduce a B-segment SUV, a B-segment sedan, a B-segment hatchback, a model refresh and a self-developed NEV model,” said the National Development and Reform Commission.

The Sino-Japanese automaker announced the beginning of its third plant's construction on December 8, 2016. Involving an investment of around RMB3 billion, the new plant is planned to start operation in the first half of 2019 with a designed capacity of 120,000 vehicles on an annual basis. As the report said then, the Wuhan-based plant features the capability to produce NEVs.

The new-generation Honda INSPIRE, an all-new mid-sized sedan produced by Dongfeng Honda, officially went on sales on October 25. Offering 7 variants based on different configurations, the vehicle is priced between RMB182,800 to RMB249,800, sharing the same platform with the tenth-generation Honda Accord. Powering the vehicle is a 1.5T engine that generates a maximum power of 194hp and peak torque of 260 N·m, hooked up to a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The automaker confirmed that the new INSPIRE will not offer another 1.5T engine variant with lower power.