Honda Motor has released a new electric motorcycle in Vietnam ahead of the introduction of stricter environmental regulations.
The Japanese automaker has an 80 percent share of the Vietnamese motorbike market. The new model was unveiled at an event on Saturday in the capital Hanoi.
The company decided to launch the electric model because the Vietnamese government will ban gasoline bikes in central Hanoi from July to tackle worsening air pollution.
Honda says the bike has a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and can run up to 120 kilometers on a single charge. The company plans to begin sales in June.
Honda faces intensifying competition in Vietnam as domestic firms with low-priced models and other competitors are increasing sales amid the transition to electric bikes.
The head of Honda Vietnam, Arai Sayaka, said the company definitely has better know-how than its competitors. She said Honda will focus on developing charging infrastructure for electric bikes.
