[JimWoo]

I bought my Clarity PHEV in North Carolina in November 2018. Prior to purchase I performed my due diligence and I was convinced then, and still am, the Clarity PHEV is the best PHEV on the market in terms of the value received for the money spent. Beyond that, I simply love this vehicle!

But, every month I check the sales figures contrast between the Toyota Prius Prime and the Honda Clarity PHEV and I am increasingly dismayed. While I personally feel the Prius Prime is not superior to the Clarity, and in many respects, not even in the same league in terms of electric range and comfort, the Clarity's sales numbers are diminishing month over month versus the Prime which is climbing. At the rate the national sales of the Clarity are going I fail to see how Honda will justify continuing to sell the vehicle beyond this model year.

Now, to my point. I have to ask myself why the Clarity's sales are going down precipitously month over month, while the Prius Prime's are increasing? I have no facts or information whatsoever to answer this question but it is disconcerting to me. As a recent purchaser of a vehicle I am extremely pleased with, I am now faced with the prospect I may have bought a "one-off" technological marvel that will be extinct in a very short period of time. Most importantly if this downward trend continues I have no confidence my local Honda dealer will have the expertise to service my vehicle when the time comes I need some highly technical maintenance performance. Worse yet, I would be very hesitant to take my vehicle on a long road trip not knowing if I could get service, or YIKES! parts should I have a problem.

Does anyone have a clue what Honda's plans on for the Clarity?

 

[Clarity_newbie]

JimWoo

The short answer is no. Nobody has a clue.

Shame really. It is a nice car. Losing sales to a competitor is to be expected when you don't bother to ship many.

 

[4sallypat]

There are many speculations on why the Clarity which was super popular in 2018 is now going by the wayside.
ZEV, CARB, DLFC, and other incentives have changed.
On a different thread there are different ZEV rules as points that manufacturers are to meet in 2019.
It's a shame that Honda can't compete with the Prius Prime, Kia Niro, Ford Energi, etc...
I really thought one of three propulsion models would take off (Electric, PHEV, Fuel Cell)....

 

[obermd]

JimWoo

The short answer is no. Nobody has a clue.

Shame really. It is a nice car. Losing sales to a competitor is to be expected when you don't bother to ship many.

The problem is there are no true competitors. GM already killed the Volt and the Prius Prime isn't even in the same class from a standpoint of EV range or vehicle features and quality.

 

[Clarification]

Advertising. Not.

 

[4sallypat]

I was fall fishing in Utah for the week and noticed there were ZERO PHEV, Fuel Cell, or EV cars on the road unless they were tourists from other states.

All I saw were 4WD and AWD cars that locals drive (snow and ice territory)...

Another factor was the fuel prices were very low.

$2.59 / gallon in UT compared to $4.89 / gallon in CA.

That might be the biggest reason people won't buy an alternative propulsion car....

My vacation week in Utah:

 

[leemell]

I was just at a dealer and they said to me that they expect the 2020 Clarity release in about a month.