Less than a week after bookings opened on October 1st, and a week after the launch of the facelifted City sedan, Honda Malaysia has officially started production of the 2026 City Hatchback facelift at its plant in Melaka.

The automaker marked the start of production with a ceremony at the assembly line, attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata.

"I commend Honda Malaysia for bringing together Japanese technology, manufacturing know-how and commitment to quality with Malaysian talent, local suppliers and industrial capabilities. Honda Malaysia's commitment to localisation is particularly noteworthy. The company has helped to strengthen local capabilities and expand domestic production by working closely with local suppliers," Shikata said.

He further added that Honda Malaysia had grown alongside Malaysia and played a role in the longstanding relationship between Malaysia and Japan, which encompasses economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Narushi Yazaki said, "We are privileged to be part of the deep-rooted relationship between Malaysia and Japan, which spans economy, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency Shikata Noriyuki for honouring us with his presence, making the production rollout of the new City Hatchback an even more memorable milestone."

"This rollout represents more than just the introduction of a new model; it reflects our dedication to manufacturing excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. Driven by this commitment and our 'Challenging Spirit', Honda Malaysia strives to deliver products and services that bring joy and true value to Malaysians while supporting the local automotive industry," he added.

Honda Malaysia said it has worked with approximately 500 local suppliers to date and has nearly 20,000 associates across Honda Malaysia, its dealership network and supplier partners.

The latest model is the second facelift of the City Hatchback, which made its Malaysian debut in late 2021 and received its first facelift in 2024. More than 51,000 units of the model have been sold in Malaysia to date.

The B-segment hatchback features a revised exterior with a sleeker profile, a redesigned front bumper, connected headlights and new 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels available in Berlina Black or Dark Clear finishes.

Inside, the City Hatchback receives an updated dashboard featuring a textured 3D silver finish and ambient lighting available in red or blue. Depending on the variant, equipment includes a larger 10-inch infotainment system, a new seat upholstery design, a Multi-View Camera System, auto-folding side mirrors and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The facelift retains the existing petrol and hybrid powertrain options. The petrol version uses a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque. The hybrid variant combines a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle i-VTEC engine producing 98 PS and 127 Nm with an electric motor generating 109 PS and 253 Nm. The City Hatchback facelift follows the launch of the facelifted City sedan, which is priced between MYR 90,000 and MYR 112,000 (US$ 22,000-27,400) in Malaysia.