TheOtherDave™

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Honda, Legislation and Policy, Fiat


Despite long waiting lists, neither Honda nor Fiat have any plans to boost production of their popular, low-volume electric vehicles and both say future production output for both the Honda Fit EV and Fiat 500e is pretty much spoken for for the rest of the year. In doing so, the automakers have effectively confirmed that the Fit EV and 500e are so-called "compliance cars" produced solely to meet the California zero-emission vehicle requirements that kicked in last year, according to Green Car Reports.

Last month, Fiat confirmed to Wards Auto that the 500e is sold out in California for the rest of the year, and reiterated that its production target won't be changed for the EV. Now we learn that Honda may be headed for a General Motors EV1/Who Killed the Electric Car? scenario because the company is only offering the all-electric Fit for lease and will take the cars back once the leases expire. The Japanese automaker is sticking to its plan to make about 1,100 Fit EVs over three years, and is sending US dealers about 45 vehicles a month. With about 200 US Honda dealers qualified to lease the car, that means each dealer is getting about three Fit EVs a year. Through June, Honda leased 291 Fit EVs and you can read more over on GCR about how these two companies are playing the CARB ZEV game well, but are not planning on winning it any time soon.Honda, Fiat show dutiful compliance in EV game originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 11 Jul 2013 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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