“本田将关停中国燃油车工厂.本田将关停两家中国燃油车工厂，广本、东本相继回应”

Honda Accelerates Electric Vehicle Transition with Chinese Factory Shutdowns [^1^] [^6^] In a strategic move to align with the evolving automotive landscape in China, Honda has announced the closure of two of its fuel vehicle manufacturing plants in the country. This decision comes as part of the automaker's broader plan to streamline production and accelerate its transition towards electric vehicles (EVs), in response to the increasing demand for greener transportation solutions and the competitive pressure from domestic EV brands. The first plant to cease operations will be the Guangqi Honda facility in Guangzhou, which is scheduled to shut down in October. This plant, with an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles, primarily manufactures the popular Accord sedan. Following closely, the Dongfeng Honda plant in Wuhan will go into suspension in November, a facility with an annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles [^1^] [^6^]. These closures are part of Honda's strategy to reduce its fuel vehicle production capacity in China by one-third, from 1.49 million units to approximately 1 million units, which represents about 10% of its global production [^1^]. This move is also a response to the company's sales performance in the Chinese market, where Honda has been experiencing a decline in fuel vehicle sales amid growing competition from local EV manufacturers. Despite the closures, Honda is actively investing in the construction of two new electric vehicle plants in partnership with its Chinese joint ventures, GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda. These new plants are expected to commence production later this year, aiming to restore Honda's production capacity in China to around 1.44 million units [^1^]. Both GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda have confirmed their commitment to the electric vehicle market. GAC Honda has released its "Yun Xin Zhi Yuan" strategic transformation plan, which outlines the company's goal to become "more intelligent, greener, and more efficient." The company's fourth production line, with an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles, is set to close in October 2024, while a new energy production line is expected to come on stream in November of the same year [^6^]. Dongfeng Honda, on the other hand, is implementing its "Create the Future 2030" strategy, actively promoting the transformation to electric vehicles and optimizing its production capacity structure. The company's second production line will be suspended in November 2024, while a new energy factory under construction is planned to start operations in September 2024 [^6^]. Honda's spokesperson has emphasized that China remains a crucial market for the company, despite the challenges faced by Japanese automakers in the country. The company's long-term plans include launching six new electric models by 2027 and increasing the proportion of electrified models to 50% by 2025, with a goal to cease the introduction of fuel vehicles by 2027 and introduce more than ten new electric models by 2030 [^6^]. The shift in Honda's production strategy reflects the broader trend in the automotive industry, where traditional fuel vehicles are gradually being replaced by electric and hybrid options. As the Chinese market continues to show a strong preference for new energy vehicles, Honda's decision to restructure its production capabilities is a proactive step towards securing its future in the world's largest automotive market [^1^] [^6^].