(October 20, 2009) Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said he would consider launching electric cars in the United States, Europe and Japan, a sign Japan's No. 2 automaker is changing its strategy for the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Honda, whose Insight hybrid is trailing far behind the Toyota Prius, has been aiming to leapfrog the competition in the next generation of zero-emission technology by focusing on the development of hydrogen fuel-cell cars.

But faced with slow progress in setting up hydrogen fueling stations, Honda has been forced to take a closer look at plug-in electric cars, which it has until recently dismissed as a short-range option that uses too many expensive batteries.

Ito has previously acknowledged Honda may need pure electric cars to meet tough regulations in California. He told an industry seminar he would consider launching electric cars for Europe, Japan and other markets as well.

Toyota and Nissan have announced plans to offer plug-in electric vehicles globally by 2012, while General Motors' Chevrolet Volt is expected to hit showrooms next year.

"There is no change to my view that hydrogen fuel-cell cars will in the end be proven the best," Ito said. "(But) electric vehicles will also be a core option for cars in the future," he added.