Dongfeng Honda Executive Disassembles Gasoline Engine to Reaffirm ICE Value in Electrification Era

[Company Update] In a counter-trend move, a Dongfeng Honda executive disassembled a 1.5T gasoline engine to address skepticism about the company's electrification strategy.

Key Development: Cao Dongjie Personally Dismantles Engine to Highlight Ongoing Value of Internal Combustion Technology

Amid China’s sixth consecutive increase in refined oil prices by 2026 and the surging wave of new energy vehicles, Cao Dongjie, Executive Deputy General Manager of Dongfeng Honda, announced on April 3 and released a video series titled "Disassembling Honda's 1.5T Engine," becoming the first executive from a joint-venture automaker to publicly dismantle an engine. This action aims to showcase the high performance and reliability of the 1.5T engine.

Strategic Foundation: ICE Vehicles Remain a Critical Pillar During Transition Period

Although China’s new energy vehicle penetration rate is rising rapidly, joint-venture brands still rely heavily on internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid models for the majority of their sales. By making its technology visible and transparent, Dongfeng Honda seeks to reinforce customer confidence in gasoline-powered vehicles and secure a time window for its transition toward PHEV/HEV hybrid technologies.