Nobody saw it coming but Honda’s design operations in Germany will be discontinued at the end of November. This decision to close both the car design and motorcycle design studios of Honda R&D Europe (HRE-G) in Offenbach was made at the end of September. The employees, more than anyone else, were shocked by the announcement.
Incidentally, this is the latest casualty in cuts for the car design community. It can be recalled that Honda had recently undertaken measures to stem growing losses. Last January, the UK factory was shut down for four months and the company decided not to attend the last Frankfurt Motor Show. Honda spokesman Christophe Rust said, “This is a regrettable structure change due to the current economic picture.” Honda has not revealed what it plans for its design activities in Europe . It is likely that motorcycle design will be moved to its Italian design studio in Rome .
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