Say goodbye to the Honda Clarity; production ceases in August
The automotive industry has been in constant transformation for several years and manufacturers have no choice but to comply. While Honda barely offers a few hybrid models currently in our market, it will adopt a new strategy in the years to come. This is why one of the central models of the manufacturer’s electrification will be eliminated as of next August: the Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid.
Just as the texts on the new Honda Civic – which offers no electrified variant – hit the web, Japanese manufacturer Honda confirms that production of the plug-in hybrid sedan Clarity will be ceased next August.
This is no surprise since the car’s sales have never been really impressive. It must be said, however, that the manufacturer has never facilitated the deployment of this model, making it particularly difficult to obtain from dealerships.
Officially, however, Honda justifies the withdrawal of the plug-in hybrid Clarity by a change in strategy. The manufacturer prefers to focus more on the deployment of several models equipped with the hybrid powertrain with two engines, such as that found in the Honda Accord Hybrid.
Also, the manufacturer has confirmed that various models of electric vehicles, including those developed in collaboration with GM, will be launched in the coming years. In this sense, production of the Clarity – both the plug-in hybrid variant and the one equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell sold elsewhere – will be stopped in June.
The discontinuation of this model, as well as that of the Honda Legend, Acura RLX and Japanese Honda Odyssey also sounded the death knell for the Sayama plant in Japan, which assembled its vehicles. It will close its doors permanently in March 2022.
Remember that Honda plans to diversify its range of electrified products in the coming years. Rumors point to the arrival of a new generation of products equipped with a hybrid engine, such as the HR-V, the CR-V and the Pilot.