Not only Honda, other motorcycle manufacturers such as Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki will also remove some motorcycle products due to new stricter emission regulations in Japan.

Similar to the auto industry, the motorcycle industry will also see many changes in the next decade as electric vehicles are the new trend. However, before fully turning to electric products, the four giants in Japan’s motorcycle industry have announced information about the removal of some products due to increasingly strict emission regulations.

Accordingly, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki will stop producing about 20 models by the end of this year, equivalent to 10% of the 190 models currently sold on the market of these 4 brands. Nikkei reported that Honda will discontinue about 10 of the current 80 models before Japan officially applies the new emission law this fall. Some notable names among them include CB400, Benly, and Gold Wing.

With Suzuki, they are expecting to stop producing 5 of 20 products in October, including the GSX250R model just launched in 2017. Yamaha will remove 2 models of the FJR1300 tourer series, while Kawasaki will eliminate a number of large displacement motorcycle models launched last year.

It is known that the new emission standard in Japan is established after the Euro 5 emission standard was applied in the European Union from the beginning of 2020. New stricter emission regulations force motorcycle manufacturers to upgrade the exhaust conversion system or redesign the engine. The cost of performing upgrades to meet the new emission standards seems too high, so brands have decided to cease production of models instead of upgrading them.

Major motorcycle manufacturers are also following in the footsteps of car manufacturers to prepare for the era of electric vehicles. Honda is ready to convert all of its products, including motorcycles, by 2040. On the other hand, Yamaha says 90% of its vehicles will be PHEVs by 2050. Kawasaki is more ambitious when aiming to sell only hybrid and electric motorcycles in developed countries by 2035. From now until 2025, Kawasaki will also launch more than 10 completely new electric and hybrid motorcycle models.

Source: tinxe.vn