Honda Halts Lawnmower Manufacturing

P

pekingduck

Road warrior
Thread starter
Honda announced today they will halt lawnmower and string trimmer manufacturing in the US in late 2023, in advance of impending bans on gasoline powered small engines in some states.

Sales have dropped in recent years due to electric-powered machines, and the business decision was made. ATVs will be manufactured at the existing plant in NC, which will allow the plant in SC to concentrate on side-by-side production.

Some might question Honda's practices, such as selling engines to put on other's mower platforms, or not pursuing the riding mower market. Sadly, they are not the risk takers they once were, more bean counters. Although they make jets.......

Their lawnmowers were generally recognized as the best, and most commercial gardeners rely on them.

What does this have to do with motorcycles? Maybe nothing, maybe a harbinger of things to come in the motorcycle world.
 
I'm sure Honda will soon make splendid electrically-powered machines ... unless, of course, some alternative to petroleum appears upon which existing engines can run.
 
Thread starter
Well, not so sure about that. In their car line, they have 3 hybrids, all sedans, no electrics at all. Hyundai has 6 hybrids, 2 electric. Kia has 6 hybrids, 2 electrics, all suv/crossover. And Toyota, with 14.

Where everyone else is expanding, over-cautious Honda will enter that market too late. Their problems come from within, and are corporate-wide. They are the British car and motorcycle industries of the '70s. Honda's slogan used to be "Follow the Leader", but it's not Honda anymore.
 
Actually I think the Honda car offers depends on the market, and you are looking only on the US market. Keep in mind that petrol prices there are far below most other countries.

Here in Switzerland, the Honda car range proposes 5 base models, one being an EV and the others are all proposed as hybrids:

e6530fd34bb28007462dd75c71697a12.jpg


So certainly here they are focusing on the market of EVs and hybrids.
 
Not surprised about the mowers. Recently moved to a "no outside maintenance" community. However, in my 50 or so years of lawn mowing, I owned only three Honda mowers....all bought used, and all sold for more than I paid.
 
Thread starter
Wagonpeddler_imp said:
Not surprised about the mowers. Recently moved to a "no outside maintenance" community. However, in my 50 or so years of lawn mowing, I owned only three Honda mowers....all bought used, and all sold for more than I paid.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I see a business opportunity cornering the market on new and used Honda mowers.
 
Honda gasoline scooters are clean and very efficient. There are still large markets for them around the world, but it will dwindle in urban centers for sure.

The overall trend is unsurprising. There will be friction points along the path of complete electric adoption. I really don't mind ultra-quiet, bearingless high-powered leaf blowers over the old gasoline ones. In fact, the latest technology electric ones are more powerful, lighter and versatile.
 
Thread starter
Henrik_imp said:
Actually I think the Honda car offers depends on the market, and you are looking only on the US market. Keep in mind that petrol prices there are far below most other countries.

Here in Switzerland, the Honda car range proposes 5 base models, one being an EV and the others are all proposed as hybrids:

e6530fd34bb28007462dd75c71697a12.jpg


So certainly here they are focusing on the market of EVs and hybrids.
Click to expand...
Yes, there are certainly differences in market requirements. Toyota of Switzerland lists 26 different models, but I didn't look closely at the breakdown of hybrid/electric vs gas.

In the US, more than 2/3 of sales are pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans.
 
pekingduck_imp said:
Honda announced today they will halt lawnmower and string trimmer manufacturing in the US in late 2023, in advance of impending bans on gasoline powered small engines in some states.

Sales have dropped in recent years due to electric-powered machines, and the business decision was made. ATVs will be manufactured at the existing plant in NC, which will allow the plant in SC to concentrate on side-by-side production.

Some might question Honda's practices, such as selling engines to put on other's mower platforms, or not pursuing the riding mower market. Sadly, they are not the risk takers they once were, more bean counters. Although they make jets.......

Their lawnmowers were generally recognized as the best, and most commercial gardeners rely on them.

What does this have to do with motorcycles? Maybe nothing, maybe a harbinger of things to come in the motorcycle world.
Click to expand...

That’s interesting that they are halting production on mowers and string trimmers. Both of mine are like tanks. The string trimmer is 4 cycle…no longer mixing oil and gas. Not near as loud as a 2 cycle and much more powerful.
Just as you indicated regarding other platforms, my Coleman power washer and a Black Max generator both use Honda engines.

Our church uses Honda push mowers. That’s where I discovered how tough they are.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Interesting. I had an in-law from New Jersey buy a Stihl 2-cycle leaf blower while he was visiting here in Ohio. In Jersey, they haven't outlawed the gas line trimmers and blowers yet but it's working its way through the legislature. In front of that, the local dealers have stopped carrying gas stuff. So, he bought it here.

Time to buy some sheep and let them handle the grass? Nahhhhh.
 
I gave my Honda mower away because the plastic deck cracked and it wasn't worth fixing to me. I have an EGO mower now (battery powered). I love it, but it's not as good as my Honda. However, it's much easier to maneuver and store and I don't have to have a gas can in the shed which makes cigar smoking in there much more pleasant if not as risky.

Honda will develop electric power for everything, I think. They'll lose too much market share to do otherwise. Happy to argue why I think this forced move to EVs will not help the environment in the long run, but that would be more off the motorcycling topic than this thread is already. LOL
 
I think it costs me 10 cents in dino to cut the property with the ultra reliable Honda mower, but a modern electric mower won't make it on double-cradled batteries. A good eMower is too expensive and still lacks "range". They will come down in price and improve practicality. Maybe a few more years.

In addition, fresh damp grass will bog down eMowers. The Honda doesn't give in.
 
Honda's slogan used to be "We make it simple"! That sure went out the window years ago. Funny this subject came up, I just treated myself to a new Honda walk behind to replace the 36 year one I bought new. I also have a lawn tractor also bought new in 1990 that I just ordered some parts for and can still get them. The only mowers I have ever owned. maybe the made them too good and put themselves out of biz. Along with the EPA.
 
Has the EPA gone out of business? :P
 
STLTHMSTA_imp said:
Honda's slogan used to be "We make it simple"! That sure went out the window years ago. Funny this subject came up, I just treated myself to a new Honda walk behind to replace the 36 year one I bought new. I also have a lawn tractor also bought new in 1990 that I just ordered some parts for and can still get them. The only mowers I have ever owned. maybe the made them too good and put themselves out of biz. Along with the EPA.
Click to expand...
Cormanus_imp said:
Has the EPA gone out of business? :P
Click to expand...
*** Cormanus ***



:D
 
You're nicked, GO! :D
 
GoldOxide_imp said:
Cormanus_imp said:
You're nicked, GO! :D
Click to expand...
... or is it "knicked"? :huh:
Click to expand...
... or is it "knicked"? :huh:
‘Nicked.’

And thanks for the avatar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Cormanus
  • Sticky
Monthly Photo Challenge History
Replies
1
Views
1K
Bob750_imp
B
P
Part 3. Roads Less Travelled - Wet and Wild
Replies
17
Views
2K
Pterodactyl_imp
P
Back
Top