By Daniel Leussink

HAGA, Japan (Reuters) -Honda Motor said on Thursday it is developing a platform centred on mid-size hybrid cars and a hybrid system for large vehicles, as the Japanese automaker seeks to boost competitiveness amid a slower shift to fully electric cars.

The new platform, to be deployed in vehicles from 2027 or later, will be designed for hybrids but can also accommodate petrol-only models. Honda said the platform will be about 90 kg (200 lb) lighter than current designs.

Japan’s second-biggest automaker after Toyota has stepped up efforts to grow in the U.S. as it faces intense competition in China and other markets, while also grappling with import tariffs and pricing pressure in North America.

The automaker aims to have more than 60% of parts shared across different

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