Honda said it would scrap making the technology through its Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) JV, which only began “mass” production in 2024 at a facility in Michigan, US.

The company said the JV yielded “some positive results”, and the pair “reached an agreement” to discontinue fuel cell making at FCSM after discussions about the “continuation” of the business.

Neither company has stated whether the FCSM JV will be scrapped altogether.

However, last October, GM halted the development of next-generation fuel cells being worked on in Michigan.

This latest move from Honda suggests the FCSM facility in Brownstown could essentially be mothballed, ending its collaboration with GM that began in 2017.

Honda will now focus on its independently developed next-gen fuel cell technologies as it looks to “further expand” opportunities to grow its hydrogen business.

Last year, the firm claimed its new fuel cell module would cost half as much to produce and have more than double the durability of its current model.

The company said the PEM module would offer a maximum efficiency of 59.8% with a volumetric density of 0.5kW/litre, and a total volume of 300 litres.

While it originally planned to begin mass production of the new system by 2027, Honda recently delayed and scaled back its manufacturing plans in Japan.

Honda said its government subsidy-backed factory in Moka City would miss its planned launch, with production capped at 20,000 units – some 10,000 lower than planned, blaming “changes in the global hydrogen market environment.”

While Honda continues to back its hydrogen pursuit, the energy carrier has made limited inroads in mobility applications.

With high fuel costs, fragmented infrastructure, and growing strength in EV technology, hydrogen vehicles face tough challenges – particularly in light-duty road use.

However, these haven’t dampened efforts. Last July, Honda emerged as a founding member of the Global Hydrogen Mobility Alliance, calling on European policymakers to implement existing policies to support hydrogen mobility roll out.