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Honda says its 2009 Insight hybrid will make a world debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The company expects annual sales of the Insight to hit 200,000 units per year globally, including about 100,000 units in North America.

The five-passenger, five-door Insight is expected to be the most affordable hybrid car available when it goes on sale in the spring of 2009, according to Honda. It will utilize a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System.

The Insight hybrid will be manufactured at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan, which also is where the Civic hybrid is produced.

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Honda of America Mfg. employs more than 12,000 in Ohio at four plants and automotive support functions. Add about 3,000 to that when including the large R&D center, transmission plant and other operations. Honda employs about 900 at its Greensburg plant in Indiana.

For more information about Honda visit http://www.honda.com.