Honda is to shut its European design facility in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, according to media reports.
The decision to close Honda’s car and motorcycle design studios at its European R&D headquarters was taken at the end of September in a bid to cut its costs.
“This is a regrettable structure change due to the current economic picture,” said a Honda source. “The German design activities will be discontinued with effect from the end of November.”
Motorcycle design is likely to be transferred to the company's Italian design studio in Rome, but car design is likely to be full transferred to Japan.
Notable cars designed at the studio include last year’s OSM concept and the Neukom concept unveiled at the 1999 Tokyo motor show.
Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Honda reviews, news and video
Join the debate
Add your comment
Wow!!! wonderful designable
Wow!!! wonderful designable studio you have done which will be very useful to me as well. I will come to you to know the discussion as well. I am sure the article is very essential for me because i am a studio designer.
http://lamaisonaz.com/
Re: Honda 'to close design studio'
I presume the current Civic exterior wasn't designed there! Can't believe how dated it looks already. Did the designer get a large set of triangle templates for Christmas?
Like the interior though!
Re: Honda 'to close design studio'
If what you say is the whole story, and the only memorable cars to come out of the studio in 10 years are two concepts, then I'm not surprised Honda are closing it. Even the F1 team were more productive than that. Perhaps they were busy designing parts to meet European legislation.