Tokyo - Honda has started production of its FCX hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle, hailing it as the start of "a new era of cleaner motoring."

A new fuel-cell vehicle assembly line has been established at the Honda Automobile New Model Centre near Tokyo, which includes processes unique to a fuel-cell vehicle, such as the installation of the fuel-cell stack and hydrogen tank, the company said.

The new plant enabled mass production of fuel cells, moving closer to the goal of more widespread use of fuel-cell vehicles, Honda said.

Lease sales of the FCX Clarity are scheduled to start in the United States in July and later this year in Japan.

The combined sales plan for Japan and the US calls for a few dozen units within a year and about 200 units within three years, according to Honda. (dpa)