Clarity Sightings

We see a white one around Ann Arbor where we live. The car isn't as distinctive as my original 2-seat Insight so not as easy to spot in time to flash the headlights in recognition as we gen-1 Insight drivers continue to do.

Sales should pick up now that Honda's stepped up the placement of its 30-second spot. You know, the one with the happy family driving through the countryside in a Clarity Plug-In Hybrid with a giant see-through D-cell battery looming behind them. Explaining the Clarity PHEV in 30 seconds is a pretty tall order. Showing a family of 5 riding comfortably inside while stating "it runs on electric and has gas--if you need it" followed by listing the car's 340-mile total range is the most one could expect to convey in 30 seconds. If someone is thinking about going electric, it will pique their interest.
 
Just started seeing that commercial this week on tv. Must have seen it 6 times by now. Honda’s definitely pitching it to the non-tech savy masses by emphasizing roominess and range over any high tech or tree hugging features. Still haven’t seen one in Central Kentucky area.
 
There are 3 other TV "ads" I've seen but so far only online. The Dream Garage one with James Hinchcliffe and there are two spots tied into the TV show Superstore featuring the characters from the show. I guess they showed it during that show? The manager explains the charging of his new car.
 
Sadly I saw another Clarity today - in the showroom. It's a green Touring and it has been sitting there since December. It came on the truck with our red one which we brought home December 5th. It's puzzling how certain pockets of the U.S. are sold out of Claritys while other areas have stock sitting on the floor. Our local Honda dealer did sell one more, a grey/silver model, which I believe I saw in town one day.
 
jdonalds said:
Sadly I saw another Clarity today - in the showroom. It's a green Touring and it has been sitting there since December. It came on the truck with our red one which we brought home December 5th. It's puzzling how certain pockets of the U.S. are sold out of Claritys while other areas have stock sitting on the floor. Our local Honda dealer did sell one more, a grey/silver model, which I believe I saw in town one day.
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Saw my first one a few weeks ago driving on Rt84 in CT. I honked as I passed but the woman driving the car seemed shocked. I guess she doesn't read this forum.
 
LAF said:
Saw my first one a few weeks ago driving on Rt84 in CT. I honked as I passed but the woman driving the car seemed shocked. I guess she doesn't read this forum.
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I'm down in Stamford, CT. Saw another Clarity yesterday afternoon in one of middle school parking lots.
 
We saw our first one on Long Island! It only took over 5 months. Ironically it was the same color as my wife’s Clarity, silver. :)
 
Talked to some Honda Technicians from a fairly large dealership here in Raleigh, NC today. They thought that about 4 or 5 Claritys had been sold and that they had more than 4 sitting on the lot. None of them had even touched one yet.

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I'll be interested to see how many of these Clarity cars that Honda can actually sell this year (all 3 models). So far this year, (Jan-Apr) there are about 3600 sold. So maybe they get to 15K this year if things pick up a little? That doesn't seem like a sustainable number of vehicles for one line, though it does look comparable to other PHEVs' sales figures for the same time period. Contrast with the Accord, which sold 24K units in the US in March alone, and 322K units last year. I guess time will tell…
 
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bfd said:
So maybe they get to 15K this year if things pick up a little? That doesn't seem like a sustainable number of vehicles for one line, though it does look comparable to other PHEVs' sales figures for the same time period.
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Maybe true overall, but given the Fuel Cell version sells maybe 50 or less, this makes the fuel cell version that much more sustainable (The PHEV helps stem losses with the fuel cell of BEV versions).

I think with proper marketing the Clarity PHEV could sell many more, maybe 50 or 60k per year? My wife said she saw a commercial for one on TV so that is a good sign. However, I think the issue is a sedan with different styling is not the best choice for volume sales. Making a CRV version might appeal to more people.

I consider the Clarity more of an introduction car, get a few new buyers to the brand that might otherwise buy something else, develop and improve the technology and get their ZEV credits.
 
@Viking79 - my thoughts exactly - a CR-V with 50 miles EV and 300 HV would slay the crossover market! In fact, I'd be in line for one out of the box and ditch the Odyssey.
 
Husband saw a white one parked in our neighborhood in Washington, DC. I'm a little sad I can no longer feel special as the only Clarity owner around.

On the other hand, in the hgarage where I park at work, we have 10+ EV or PHEVs vying for 4 free chargers and ours is the only Clarity...so far.
 
Pegsie said:
Husband saw a white one parked in our neighborhood in Washington, DC. I'm a little sad I can no longer feel special as the only Clarity owner around.

On the other hand, in the hgarage where I park at work, we have 10+ EV or PHEVs vying for 4 free chargers and ours is the only Clarity...so far.
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I feel the opposite way. I want more people to have the car so that I blend with everyone else! I don't want to call attention to too many people.

Same here with my parking situation at work! Except they just installed 4 Tesla chargers so that leaves more room for other cars in the regular 4 charging stations.
 
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