Why new Honda hybrid was launched in Hervey Bay

A major car manufacturer chose Hervey Bay as its launch pad for a new car powered by artificial intelligence. Here’s why. VIDEO.

With a vehicle nicknamed Harvey, it only made sense for Honda to launch it in Hervey Bay.

The new Honda HR-V, available in petrol and hybrid, is making its way around the nation – first stop, the Fraser Coast.

Lora Tomassi, Acting Brand and Communication Manager for Honda Australia, was on hand to tell the media about the new vehicle and to explain the decision to launch it in Hervey Bay.

“The reason we decided to launch the all new HR-V in Hervey Bay is because we named the new HR-V Harvey, just a little bit of a play on words and for a bit of fun, and we thought what better way to launch the vehicle than in Hervey Bay, a town with the same name as the vehicle,” she said

“There was also a bit of an emotional reason why as well. A lot of local communities have done it really tough in recent years with lockdowns and coronavirus and all the rest.

“So we wanted to showcase that the new HRV is the best travel companion, so we decided to do a road trip around Hervey Bay.”

The Harvey that is on the road with the crew is a little bit different to most.

It has been fitted out with special features like hydraulics and LED lighting, as well as connecting to Google Nest.

The company’s newest small SUV has been completely reimagined for 2022 with new features across premium aspirational design, technology, and unequalled versatility in both petrol and self-charging hybrid variants.

On tour through Hervey Bay with Honda influencer Olivia Molly-Rogers, Honda introduced Harvey – an AI-powered, talking HR-V – as the ultimate road trip companion in a bid to enable young people to reimagine Australia by road.

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events general manager Martin Simons said the launch of the vehicle drove home the Fraser Coast’s place in the state’s drive market, with the region within three hours drive of 70 per cent of the state’s population in the southeast corner.

“The Honda that is being launched is perfect for road trips and it really does accentuate what we’ve got here.

“We’ve go the best whale centre in Australia and arguably one of the best in the world, the first whale heritage site in the world, tremendous national assets, a world heritage listed island, close to the reef, going to Maryborough with its great heritage assets and the beaches of Hervey Bay.

“We weren’t allowed to drive it on the pier but it’s been pretty well everywhere else in Hervey Bay to showcase the region and we’re helping to showcase this great car.”