Honda Stopping Production of Ridgeline Until 2028 Due to Emissions Rules
Honda plans to stop production of the current generation of its Ridgeline midsize pickup truck during final quarter of the year. It will resume building the new version of the model in 2028 when it can meet federal emissions rules.
According an Automotive News report, the company will halt manufacturing of the pickup at its Lincoln, Alabama plant in the fourth quarter. Honda will resume production of a “heavily freshened” variant during the third quarter of 2028.
Sales of the truck, often derided for its use of a unibody instead of more tradition ladder frame construction, were up 6.7 percent last year; however, have fallen significantly during the first four months of this year. They are down 4.2 percent through April, including a 15.7 percent slide last month.
The updated model should help generate some new buzz — although it’s expected to continue as a unibody — with several exterior updates and an improved 6-cylinder engine. The publication noted Honda is one of six vehicles that must improve fuel efficiency to meet California’s air quality mandates, which are tougher than federal rules.
The changes to the Ridgeline will give Honda some additional time for it to keep developing a new, more efficient platform that will keep it ahead of all emissions rules and mandates from the start of the next decade. Additionally, the Pilot, Passport, and Odyssey are expected to use some for it of this V6 package that will not only improve fuel economy but also torque and towing capacity, the publication noted.
Honda’s updates to the Ridgeline come as the company looks to deal with the aftermath of the halt to the 0 Series EV. The company put a stop the new vehicle, along with the Afeela offering it was developing with Sony. Those two programs contributed heavily to the automakers first annual loss in seventy years, costing then CEO Toshihiro Mibe and other top executives their jobs.
[Images: Honda]
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Michael Strong has spent more than 25 years writing about the automotive industry. A Detroit-area native, he’s written about everything from local car shows to product reviews to financial news. Currently he writes and edits for a variety of national and local publications. He’s also a longtime member of the Automotive Press Association and the International Motor Press Association, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Hail Southern! Despite a love for ’70s land yachts and BMWs from the late ’80s and early ’90s, his personal vehicle is neither of those.
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CARB is bad for the automotive sector. Ridiculous to have multiple emissions standards. One nation, one standard
Why only stop the Ridgeline if the Passport and Pilot use the same engine. Or why not just stop selling in California? It would be great if all folks stopped selling to California so they can rot in their own arrogance.
Honda is going to have a tough time reclaiming marketshare not selling Ridgelines for a year. This is not good.
Why does everything have to be a hybrid, pay back period is longer than most 1st owners own their vehicles. Money losing situation all around.
It must be refreshing for Honda to be able to blame someone else for a product misstep.
(It doesn't sell, folks...that's why it's being dropped. The "but...but...but CARB" stuff is bullshit.)
"Honda is one of six vehicles that must improve fuel efficiency to meet California’s air quality mandates, which are tougher than federal rules."
Doesn't California runs out of gasoline? So, what is the difference. Ridgeline can't run on no fuel.
I'll make this a separate post so I can delete it later. I mean, in case it gets deleted.
Something like 18 states follow CARB, if you include California and if D.C. is a state, which it isn't.
Those states and District generally vote the right way, I mean the Left way, except they can't vote in D.C.
Those states and District account for something like 40% of new vehicle sales in the U.S.A.
Arizona and Florida were CARB states but they changed their minds and now they aren't. Arizona probably is and isn't at the same time. Florida is probably lying about their status.
Most new light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. are '50-state compliant' -- they wouldn't have to be, but they are. I remember when the manufacturers assembled vehicles to two different standards and it created extra work including the distribution system.
TL;DR: The 32 states which follow EPA not CARB get 50-state not 49-state parts on their new vehicles. Government maths.
“The publication noted Honda is one of six vehicles that must improve fuel efficiency to meet California’s air quality mandates, which are tougher than federal rules.”
Honda isn’t a vehicle, it’s a manufacturer. But imagine that. Of all brands, Honda can’t meet Commiefornias ridiculous emission rules. If I were Honda I’d just stop selling in Commiefornia. Why pander to a state that clearly doesn’t know what they are doing?
hey california it’s the United States of America not the United States of california.The emission standards are fine and air is good , it’s no longer 1960 .Dictatorial emission standards are not needed or wanted.If California won’t change then withhold federal money .They need to understand that they are just one state and not a kingdom with a king that will not cooperate with federal laws .
Amazed people are complaining about CARB. Which industry lobbyists got to you, because exactly zero of you were lining up to buy a Honda Ridgeline.
Clean air is more useful.
In case you missed it, Congress and the EPA revoked California's waiver to set its own emissions standards, which means there is now only the federal 50 state emissions regulations. California is suing the EPA, but who knows how that will turn out. In the meantime, CARB is out of business.
I wonder if this partially has to do with "footprint" regulations that favour larger vehicles?
That's one of the cited reasons for the demise of the regular cab pickup.