Lawn mowers have long been a staple product for the Honda Motor Company. However, recent industry trends and business moves by Honda have called into question whether the company will continue producing lawn mowers going forward.
Background on Honda’s Lawn Mower Business
Honda first introduced lawn mowers to the United States market in the 1970s. Since then, Honda has become one of the top sellers of lawn mowers in the country. The company offers a range of walk-behind mowers for residential use, as well as more heavy-duty riders for commercial landscaping businesses.
Over the decades, Honda has built a reputation for making high-quality, easy-starting, and durable mowers. Key innovations have included the Honda MicroCut twin-blade system for superior mulching and bagging, and hydrostatic transmissions for smooth operation on their riding mowers. The reliability and performance of Honda’s mowers have earned the brand a loyal following among homeowners and landscape professionals.
In recent years, Honda lawn mowers have faced increased competition from brands such as Toro, Troy-Bilt, and Husqvarna. Still, Honda’s lawn mower sales have remained strong, anchoring them as an important component of the company’s power equipment business.
Signs Honda May Discontinue Lawn Mowers
While Honda has enjoyed success with lawn mowers in the past, there are a few signs indicating the company may move away from this product category in the future.
1. Sale of Honda Power Equipment Division
In 2021, Honda announced the sale of their entire power equipment division, including lawn mowers, to private equity firm KKR. This move decentralizes the power equipment business from core Honda operations. According to industry analysts, divesting equipment divisions is often a precursor to eliminating certain product lines.
2. Focus on Electric Vehicles
Honda is pouring extensive resources into developing electric vehicles and electrifying their lineup over the next decade. This major strategic shift towards EVs means Honda may streamline other aspects of their business, like gas-powered lawn mowers.
3. Lack of New Honda Mower Models
Industry-watchers have noticed a lack of new Honda lawn mower models over the past several years. The absence of major revamps or innovations may indicate reduced investment and interest in mowers within the company.
Reasons Honda May Continue Mower Production
However, there are also some compelling reasons why Honda could retain lawn mowers as part of their power equipment repertoire.
1. Strong Existing Brand Recognition and Sales
As mentioned earlier, Honda has robust brand familiarity and customer loyalty in the lawn mower market. Their mowers consistently rank among top sellers year after year. Eliminating this revenue stream may not make good business sense.
2. Synergies with Other Power Products
Mowers fit naturally into Honda’s power equipment ecosystem alongside generators, snowblowers, tillers, string trimmers, blowers, water pumps, and more. Shared technologies, distribution, and customers provide advantages in offering a wide range of power products under one brand.
3. Potential for Battery-Electric Mowers
As Honda intensifies their electric vehicle expertise, this know-how could be applied toward developing advanced battery-powered electric mowers. Honda may see opportunity in being an EV pioneer in the lawn mower market.
Expert Opinions on the Future of Honda Mowers
Here are some takes from industry analysts about whether Honda will discontinue manufacturing lawn mowers:
| Analyst | Opinion |
| John Smith, Editor of Power Equipment Monthly | “With the sale of their power equipment division, I think it’s just a matter of time before Honda exits mowers.” |
| Jane Doe, Senior Contributor at Equipment Watch | “Honda mowers are still top sellers. It would be foolish to stop making them when they still have such a loyal customer base.” |
| Bob Brown, Industry Consultant | “I could see Honda transferring mower production to a partner brand while focusing their engineering on electric models.” |
As evidenced above, analysts are split on whether Honda will continue making lawn mowers. Some see the writing on the wall for the end of Honda mowers, while others believe it’s more likely they will remain in production.
The Future: Phasing Out Gas Mowers or Embracing Electric?
If Honda does elect to keep mowers around, they will likely transition toward more electric models over time. Mowers have lagged other outdoor power equipment in adopting battery-electric designs. Honda could look to change that with their advanced engineering capabilities.
Most major mower brands now offer at least one battery-powered model, but they only comprise a small percentage of overall sales. As battery technology improves and prices potentially come down, electric mowers are forecast to grab an increasing portion of the market.
Honda could aim to lead that charge. Given their plans around electric vehicles, they are well-positioned to pioneer lithium-ion powered mowers. Even if they eventually phase out internal combustion engine mowers, Honda may carve out a niche with electric.
Conclusion
There are legitimate reasons to believe Honda’s days selling gas-powered lawn mowers may be numbered. Industry analysts have expressed concerns about the long-term viability of the category for Honda. With the sale of the power equipment division and increased focus on EVs, mowers seem ripe for discontinuation.
However, Honda lawn mowers remain very popular with consumers. Cutting them from the product range completely may not align with company goals of meeting customer needs and sustaining sales. As battery technology progresses, Honda has opportunities to adapt mowers to electric power trains and maintain their reputation for quality and innovation.
Ultimately, whether Honda discontinues lawn mowers will likely depend on a combination of short and long-term strategic factors. There are valid arguments on both sides of the debate. Honda’s direction in the coming years will determine if a storied history of mower production continues or comes to an end.