I guess the FCEV partnership has been working well enough to continue with PHEV's? "Currently, the two auto companies are jointly developing only fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), but they aim to expand their cooperation into the field of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), which are seen as the mainstream of next-generation eco-cars." Honda, GM close to eco-car tie-up - The Japan News
This makes sense. GM has soft barriers that stop it from selling phevs in Japan. If the best of the 2016 volt R&D goes into the clarity II phev. If they share some parts (transmission/batteries/electronics) with gm then the price may go down faster for both of them. I would expect both to sell their own engines in the vehicles, and do their own packaging. Its interesting that the strengths/weaknesses don't include non-plug-in hybrids, and Honda is now getting with the reality that hydrogen stations aren't going to grow fast or organically. This may also help gm politically in california, if honda leaves the fuel cell gets extra bonuses in carb, and starts pushing for some credits for phevs, especially EREV type phevs. That may help bmw in California also.
Good for GM if the partnership works out. This could help bypass the tariff taxes that makes selling American cars to Japan nearly impossible. Sell GM parts, not cars to move their sales number in Japan.
yes! Because now we won't have to ever hear 'Toyota-like ' commercials from Honda bashing plugins - that they're only for people that have 4 hours to waste. .
Waking up the dead this evening. I passed a Clarity today and threw up a little in my mouth. Definitely a match made in heaven.
