Honda to Close European Design Studio

Honda apparently doesn’t think much for European designs. The Japanese automaker has just announced that it will close its European design studio, located in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, Germany. This is the latest cost cutting measure by Honda to reduce operational losses.

The R&D center is responsible for design of European Honda models as well as for motorcycles. Some of the more notable designs to come out of the German offices are the Neukom concept, unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1999 and the OSM (pictured above), which was first shown in 2008.

‘There is no word on where automotive design will be transferred to, although motorcycle design is thought to be moved to Honda’s Italian design studio in Rome.

Honda has said that, for now, the non-design related R&D activities at the offices will continue.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2009/10/breaking-honda-to-close-european-design-studio.html