Honda Clarity Fuel-Cell and PHEV Models to End Production Soon

Photo credit: Honda

• Honda will end production of the Clarity fuel-cell and plug-in-hybrid models in August 2021.

• The Clarity was initially available as an EV as well, but that model was dropped last year.

• Honda says the Clarity will still be available to lease through 2022.

The Honda Clarity, initially available as a plug-in hybrid, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, and an EV, will end production in August 2021. The announcement was first reported by Nikkei and Honda confirmed the news to C/D. The EV version was dropped last year, and now the PHEV and hydrogen versions will soon disappear from the lineup as well.

So far in 2021, Honda has only sold 1896 examples of the Clarity, and full-year sales in 2020 totaled just 4215 units, down from 11,654 units in 2019. Honda does not break out sales of the hydrogen fuel-cell Clarity, which is available only for lease in certain states. The company does say that production through August of this year will allow for the Clarity to be available to lease through the 2022 calendar year. This will leave the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo as the remaining hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on sale in the U.S.

We don't think that there is be a direct replacement for the Clarity on the horizon, but Honda is planning several new electric vehicles. A new Honda EV SUV model using GM's Ultium battery packs will arrive for the 2024 model year, and the company has set a goal to gradually increase its electric and hydrogen-powered vehicle offerings over the next two decades. By 2040, Honda says it will sell only battery-electric and hydrogen vehicles.

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