Honda will cease production of the Clarity, its hydrogen fuel cell car (FCEV), due to weak sales, according to Japanese publication Nikkei. It will also end production of the Legend and Odyssey MPV.
The Clarity was the Japanese company’s first FCEV model when it launched six years ago and the plug-in hybrid variant of the car will also be phased out as the battery-electric version was in 2020. Honda is believed to be focusing now on its next electric models. and did not rule out hydrogen technology in the future.
The Clarity was a rental-only vehicle and it is believed that poor hydrogen refueling infrastructure and a high asking price of around £ 50,500 helped slow demand for the model.
The car was never officially on sale in the UK, although six initial vehicles were sent to Europe to raise awareness and show the capabilities of fuel cell vehicles. Only two FCEV cars are on sale in the UK: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo.
Honda also discontinued two other models following slow sales. The top-of-the-line Legend sedan, which featured self-driving technology and dates from 1985, and the Odyssey, which first hit the road in 1994, both ceased production despite recent product renewals.
The Clarity, Legend and Odyssey were all built at the Honda plant in Sayama, which is slated to close in late March 2022.
Honda formed a partnership with General Motors in 2013 to develop fuel cell vehicles. This partnership will continue and the Japanese firm will consider future hydrogen models, reports Nikkei Asia.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-16 10:01:13
