Honda Motor Co. said Monday it will increase the number of outlets where it sells solar panels and is planning overseas sales to compete against Sharp Corp. and Kyocera Corp.
Honda will sell panels through 200 independent outlets next year, compared with 80 now, the company said. The Tokyo-based carmaker also said it plans overseas sales, without providing details.
Demand for solar energy is growing amid increasing pressure by governments worldwide to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions to combat global warming. Honda is also developing a system using solar energy to make hydrogen at home to power fuel-cell cars and plans to mass produce them by about 2015.
"Solar power is promising," said Yasuhiro Matsumoto, a senior analyst at Shinsei Securities Co. in Tokyo. "Honda is putting together pieces of a puzzle to find a way to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions."