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Honda to discontinue production of fuel cell systems in the US, a JV with GM – goes solo with next-gen

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Honda to discontinue production of fuel cell systems in the US, a JV with GM – goes solo with next-gen - Carr.pk

Honda to discontinue production of fuel cell systems in the US, a JV with GM – goes solo with next-gen

Honda has announced its decision to discontinue production of the current model of fuel cell system now produced at Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) in the US, before the end of 2026. FCSM is a joint venture between the Japanese carmaker and General Motors (GM).

After the discontinuation, Honda will proceed with its self-developed next-generation fuel cell system, which is set to be mass produced in 2027.

FCSM was established in January 2017 in Brownstown, Michigan as the first ever JV in the automotive industry that would produce a fuel cell system. The two carmakers combined their respective expertise in areas of development, production and procurement and realised various synergies, including the development of a “high-quality fuel cell system with excellent durability and low-temperature resistance, the introduction of cutting-edge production technologies, and cost reduction through commonising parts suppliers,” Honda says.

Honda to discontinue production of fuel cell systems in the US, a JV with GM – goes solo with next-gen

“As this collaboration yielded some positive results, the two companies held extensive discussions regarding the continuation of FCSM business and reached an agreement to discontinue production of fuel cell systems at FCSM,” it added. Post-breakup, Honda will go it alone in the fuel cell world and will seek to grow its hydrogen business as one of the new core businesses of Honda.

Honda has been conducting R&D of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for over 30 years, In 2002, the Honda FCX became the first FCEV in the world to receive certification from both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and went on lease sales in Japan and the US. FCEV successors include the FCX Clarity in 2008 and the Clarity Fuel Cell in 2016.

A fruit of this GM JV is the CR-V e:FCEV that debut in 2024. Based on the current sixth-generation CR-V, the e:FCEV is the first Japanese FCEV model with a plug-in charging function, which allows it to juice up from home or public EV chargers.

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