(Corrects operating loss forecast to as much as 570 billion yen, not 550 billion yen, in second paragraph, and adjusts dollar/yen conversion in headline, first and second paragraphs)
TOKYO, March 12 (Reuters) – Honda Motor on Thursday said it may book an operating loss of as much as $3.6 billion for the financial year ending this month due to mounting costs related to its electric vehicle strategy.
The Japanese automaker slashed its forecast to a loss of 270 billion yen to 570 billion yen ($1.7 billion to $3.59 billion) from 550 billion yen profit, and cancelled development and launches of some U.S.-made EVs given slowdown in the North America EV market.
Honda, which was holding a press conference from 0730 GMT, said it expects to incur as much as 2.5 trillion yen in expenses and losses over multiple financial years due to strategy shift.
It also lowered its net profit forecast range for this financial year to a loss of 420 billion yen to 690 billion yen, versus profit of 300 billion yen expected previously.
The automaker said it aimed to introduce next-generation hybrid models and enhance its current hybrid lineup to improve profitability.
CEO Toshihiro Mibe and Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara will voluntarily forego the equivalent of 30% of their compensation for three months while some other executives will forego 20%, the automaker said in its statement.
Honda plans to announce a revamped mid-to-long-term business strategy in the next fiscal year.
($1 = 158.9400 yen)
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Christopher Cushing)
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