Sales Plummet, Honda Begins Cutting Production in China

Honda has begun making major adjustments to its product line in China. Several models, from petrol cars to electrified ones, are reportedly entering the stock clearance phase leading to production cessation. Affected models include the Honda ZR-V, Honda Fit, Honda Accord e:PHEV, and Honda e:NS1. This step is being taken amid declining Honda sales in the Chinese market throughout 2026. Citing Carnewschina on Tuesday (12/5/2026), according to a Sina Finance report, Honda’s sales in China for April 2026 were recorded at only 22,595 units, a 48.3% decrease compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, cumulative sales from January to April 2026 reached 145,065 units, down 28% year-on-year. In China, Honda operates through two joint ventures: GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda. Several Chinese automotive websites, such as Dongchedi and Autohome, are also said to no longer display indications of new production allocations in the dealer ordering system. Even remaining units are being sold with significant discounts of up to around 84,800 yuan, equivalent to Rp 218 million, a sharp drop from the launch price of 210,000 yuan or about Rp 540 million. In addition to the ZR-V, the Honda Fit hatchback is also reportedly entering the order termination phase. Some dealers in China have ceased accepting new orders since early 2026 and are now focusing solely on selling available stock. A similar fate has befallen the Dongfeng Honda LIFE, a twin model to the Honda Fit launched in 2020. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid sedan Honda Accord e:PHEV is also starting its warehouse clearance phase. In February 2026, Honda offered substantial price cuts, reducing the car’s price to 138,800 yuan or around Rp 350 million for certain customers. That programme applied to only about 1,000 units and was not followed by additional new production allocations. Honda is also reducing variants on the Honda Integra. According to Chinese automotive media reports, the manual transmission variant has now been removed from the product lineup.