Just after last week's Tokyo Auto Show, IL News Editor Kelly Toepke had a chance to participate in a roundtable discussion with Honda's new president Takanobu Ito.
He laid out several of Honda's goals in the coming years as well as explaining some of the reasons for his actions so far. Here are some of the most memorable quotes from the conversation.
In response to a question on his expected time line for hydrogen-powered cars:
"My wish, within 10 years. Please tell your government to build more hydrogen stations."
"Hydrogen stations are not being built as fast as we had hoped, so we have to prepare ourselves with battery EVs."
Regarding the cancellation of the NSX:
"I'm the one that stopped that program."
"I personally would love to develop another sports car, but if our wish is to come true we need to overcome two challenges:
1. Bad economy, need more profit to have freedom to build new cars.
2. Need to develop new green technologies. One we have an abundance of cash, we will develop a green sports car, not like the car Lexus announced yesterday."
And finally his view of the Acura brand:
"There's a certain level of confusion within the Acura line-up, we're in the midst of a big change. Post-Lehman we dropped the larger-than-V6 engine, and have to adjust to new consumer demands."



