Honda ends production of fuel cell systems in US, joint venture with GM, goes solo with next generation – paultan.org

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

After the shutdown, Honda will continue with its proprietary next-generation fuel cell system, which will enter mass production in 2027.

FCSM was formed in January 2017 in Brownstown, Michigan as the automotive industry’s first ever JV to produce a fuel cell system. The two automakers combined their respective expertise in development, manufacturing and purchasing and achieved several synergies, including the development of a “high-performance fuel cell system with excellent durability and low temperature resistance, the introduction of advanced manufacturing technologies and cost savings through joint parts suppliers,” Honda said.

“As this collaboration yielded some positive results, the two companies held extensive discussions on the continuation of the FCSM business and reached an agreement to cease production of fuel cell systems at FCSM,” it added. After the breakup, Honda will go it alone in the fuel cell world and try to expand its hydrogen business into one of Honda’s new core businesses.

Honda has been conducting research and development in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for more than 30 years. In 2002, the Honda FCX became the world’s first FCEV to be certified by both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and entered leasing 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, which will debut in 2024. Based on the current sixth-generation CR-V, the e:FCEV is the first Japanese FCEV model to feature a plug-in charging function, allowing it to be charged from home or public EV chargers.

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