Honda UK has dropped ALL hybrids from its range!

Honda the company that introduced the first hybrid to the international market with the original Insight, and went on to have a variety of hybrid options, has now pulled the last hybrid from their UK lineup.

We didn't get an Accord hybrid because our model was different to the US, but we got the Civic Hybrid (from about 2003 onwards), the original Insight, the new Insight (from 2009), the CR-Z sport hybrid and finally the Jazz Hybrid (Fit or Viz in other markets).

They've dropped them all, the last being the Jazz hybrid which has been dropped from the new Jazz model recently released. I notice the Accord has been dropped too, though it was never hybrid.

Cars – Honda

So that's it. Honda who started it all have given up on them. Why? Very curious decision condidering other companies are moving towards electrics, plug in's, and expanding traditional hybrid range. The Outlander PHEV can't sell enough, so there's obviously a demand.

It's not just Honda though as Toyota have made a strange decision by going for the Mirai and not offering any BEV.

 

That's what I feared.

 

No. I think they just have an anti-hybrid person up top. The Insight flopped after the gen3 Prius came out and then Honda overpriced the Insight so sales really slowed. I think in the end it was more than a Prius!?! The CR-v Sport hybrid was a nice looking car but it was small inside (we got 4 seats) and was under powered. It fell shy of the magic 100g/km economy ratings so was stung with higher tax. All the Toyota hybrids, other than about two of the Prius+ fall below this figure. The Jazz hybrid was quite expensive again and the Toyota Yaris hybrid was a better car with a base model that was cheaper than the Jazz hybrid. I do see quite a few Jazz hybrids about (Fit/Viz), though they made them an awful colour, so perhaps that restricted sales?



My gut feeling is that someone at the top of Honda UK wasn't keen on HQ in Japan insisting they sold hybrids so just made them unwanted - too expensive or strange colours. Seen that with Vauxhall and their still born Ampera (Volt). Sales were shocking, but so was the cost to buy.

There is a demand for hybrids here as diesel finally has a bad rap for being a poison. There are positive tax benefits to owning a hybrid now the much publicised sales of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV show. A manufacturer on a knife edge with falling sales and an unloved lineup suddenly have a vehicle where they can't sell enough. They're everywhere. I see loads in my town. The Outlander PHEV does what a lot of people want - it's cheap to tax, cheap on petrol (mostly), it can tow, it's a small SUV, it's 4x4, it can be plugged in for upto 30 miles of electric and can use the free electric charge points on the motorway using the fast chademo socket.

Honda have so missed all this. They sold less than 10k Insights in the UK - ever. Including the first generation!
HONDA INSIGHT (model family) - How Many Left?

The Outlander has sold more than 10k in the first three months of 2015 which is good for a hybrid vehicle. By contrast Toyota sold less than 3k Prius in all of 2014. The best Prius year was 2010 where they sold 10,384 of them, in 12 months compared to 3 months with the Outlander PHEV. Give people what they want at a price they want and they will buy.

Mitsubishi Outlander takes electric car sales crown for first time - 29 Jun 2015 - News from BusinessGreen
Mitsubishi Outlander is top UK plug-in as electric car sales surge - Telegraph

 

No I'm not. They're actually selling hybrids quite nicely and they make up 1 in 3 sales, though overall Toyota share of the market is falling. Lexus have a hybrid in virtually every model of their range.

Other companies are now (eventually) releasing hybrids and they're selling too. So it's strange Honda suddenly drop all theirs. Surely they didn't release hybrids on the World market purely to meet CARB requirements? In the US market sure, but the World market? If I recall, they still sell hybrids in the US and elsewhere in the World, so why not here?

 

The Honda Jazz/Fit EV would sell well here.

2014 Honda Fit EV Overview - Official Site

I think Honda see the fuel cell as the way to go, but might be hedging their bets with the EV.

 

The Prius and hybrids are two different things.

They have indeed fallen out of love with the Prius for the reasons given. I will be very surprised if we get the gen4 here, or at least a traditional hybrid and plug in version of it. I think they may just offer the plug in to try and compete wiht the Outlander PHEV.

 

Agree. The range has just got smaller and smaller. Gone is the Accord which has been in the lineup for decades. Wouldn't want cars any bigger over here as parking can be an issue.

They've either got a load of models waiting in the wings, or it's a race to the bottom now the rot has set in.

The Jazz EV would sell IF sold and marketed correctly.