Honda SUSTAINA-C and Its Little Scooter

SUSTAINA-C and the Pocket Concept illustrate Honda’s evolving approach toward more sustainable product design.

Honda will showcase its evolving approach to more sustainable product design with the premiere of its latest urban electric vehicle concepts, the SUSTAINA-C and the Pocket Concept two-wheeler, at Milan Design Week from April 16 to 21.

Unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2024, the SUSTAINA-C Concept was developed to explore how the company could free itself from resource constraints. This model is presented alongside the Pocket Concept, a compact two-wheeler that can be stored in the luggage compartment to provide last-mile mobility.

The panels have been manufactured using recycled acrylic resin from used taillights to produce exterior elements that do not require painting. Honda thereby creates an exclusive, unpainted finish that could not be achieved with traditional materials. This materials approach could reduce emissions during production by up to 45%, partly due to the recycled materials used but also because of the absence of paint, which can account for up to 80% of CO2 emissions from an automaker’s factory.

Honda’s New Playground: Acrylic

The exhibition model in Milan displays a black and white marbled effect achieved by mixing colors with different melting points during the molding process.

In addition to their attractive aesthetic, the vehicle panels are resistant to cracking and capable of returning to their original shape after minor collisions. They also offer high weather resistance with minimal degradation caused by solar radiation.

At the rear, thanks to the excellent transparency of the acrylic resin, the trunk of the SUSTAINA-C Concept was formed from a single panel that functions as a smartphone screen. The miniature LED display was designed to communicate with other road users via simple text or images, offering a new dimension in exterior vehicle design for the vehicles of tomorrow.