These models represent the first full-revamp for Honda’s compact snowthrowers in about 20 years. We have finally been able to refresh models that customers have been asking us to update for many years. The biggest feature is that it is equipped with Honda’s unique hybrid and Cross-Auger systems in the same unit.

Hybrid snowthrowers use engines to drive the snow-clearing unit and motors for the travel mechanism, enabling smooth speed adjustment and powerful snow-clearing performance. Motor-driven travel offers excellent maneuverability, particularly in narrow spaces. On the other hand, engine-powered snow clearing provides the power to effectively gather and expel snow, realizing Honda’s signature exceptional usability.

The Cross-Auger is a mechanism that simultaneously performs forward rotation to collect snow and reverse rotation to suppress the snowplow’s buoyancy, enabling it to penetrate and crush even hard snow. In conventional augers, hard snow can cause the auger to bounce up, but the Cross-Auger adds reverse rotation to firmly penetrate the snow, significantly improving snow removal efficiency.

While models with this mechanism have existed before, they were conventional internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered snowthrowers, and were not hybrid. There has been demand for this feature in hybrid models for some time, and we are pleased to finally make it a reality. At our preview event, even sales professionals with discerning eyes praised it as the definitive compact snowthrower.

The electric auger height adjuster (which allows the auger height to be freely adjusted using an electric motor) is also a major improvement. The height of the snow-clearing unit can be adjusted using a lever, making it easy to operate even for people with limited physical strength or shorter stature. Previously, manual lifting was required, which was particularly difficult for elderly users and women. In this model, however, the height can be adjusted smoothly with a single lever.

We have also improved the visibility and operability of the control panel and incorporated a lever-operated swivel mechanism, which is typically found in medium-sized snowthrowers. The swivel radius can be freely adjusted according to how deep the lever is gripped. All these features are the result of our commitment to enhancing user-friendliness.

Snowthrowers are only used in winter, so we could only conduct testing during the winter season. We rushed to complete the design during the summer, and then conducted real-world testing on test courses such as Takasu in Hokkaido during the winter. There are years when testing doesn’t go as planned due to a lack of snow, and working in blizzard conditions is extremely harsh.

In fact, sometimes we had to clear snow just to reach the test site, and start by digging out the truck buried in snow. Sometimes it took over two hours to begin testing. Battling nature is an inescapable part of snowthrower development.

We conducted tests that replicate real usage environments, such as snow removal performance in blizzards, starting performance at sub-zero temperatures, and starting from a buried state. We also covered mountains of snow covered with insulated sheets for testing in summer.

To accommodate differences in snow quality, we conducted tests considering regional characteristics, such as Hokkaido’s powder snow and Niigata’s damp snow. Dry snow is difficult to disperse, while damp snow tends to clog. We developed the snowthrower to work under both conditions.

We are committed to developing products to support life in snowy regions, and our snowthrowers are highly regarded in the domestic snowthrower market. We take pride in product development, carrying forward the spirit of our founder, Soichiro Honda, who sought to create machinery that benefits people.

Snowthrowers are not just work tools, but are tools that protect daily life. In snowy regions, if you cannot clear the snow in the morning, you cannot go to work. As these products support such an essential part of daily life, we conduct development with a sense of Honda’s responsibility and pride.

I also serve as the representative of the Snowthrower Safety Council, an industry association, and conduct safety training sessions nationwide. While snowthrowers are convenient, they can be dangerous if not used correctly. That is why we believe it is our responsibility to promote correct usage.

During the seminars, we demonstrate operation using actual snowthrowers and explain important safety points. As a leader in the industry, Honda places a strong emphasis on safety education.

The entire development team can proudly present this model. It is easy to handle for those with limited strength or smaller stature, such as the elderly and women, yet powerful and reliable. It truly embodies the concept of a ”Snow Life Partner” for people living in snowy regions.

If you see a red Honda snowthrower at a ski resort or in a residential area, please take a closer look. We hope that this snowthrower, filled with our passion, will make life in snowy regions a little more comfortable. Honda snowthrowers are not just tools. They are partners that support daily life.

We will continue to strive to create better products that support the lives of people in snowy regions. Through our snowthrowers, we hope more people will feel Honda’s spirit of “products made for people.”