：《Has Japan "Locked In" the Future of Global Automotive Industry?》
The global hydrogen vehicle sector has recently suffered a major setback, making the road to a truly zero-emission future even more challenging.
Honda announced a delay in the construction and capacity plans of its next-generation fuel cell module plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The company also withdrew from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) Green Transformation (GX) supply chain support project. Originally, the plant was slated to begin production in FY2027 with an annual output of 30,000 units.
Ironically, just this February, both Honda and Toyota unveiled their next-generation fuel cell technologies. Toyota plans to mass-produce its third-generation FC system in 2026, while Honda, building on its joint development with General Motors (GM), has developed its own new-generation system, targeting mass production in 2027.
Although hydrogen-powered vehicles are still far from mainstream, Japanese automakers are seizing a commanding lead, aiming to define the future of global mobility.
