American Honda Motor Co. said Friday that it would stop making its Element utility vehicle after the 2011 model year.

In the U.S., the company has sold 325,000 of the boxy vehicles, which are popular among dog owners and bicycle enthusiasts because of the way the interior space can be arranged. Several bikes can be stored in the rear compartment standing up and without wheels being removed.

Honda said that the car had been overshadowed in its own lineup by the CR-V small SUV and that competitors had come out with other small utilities that compete with the Element.

"The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "It made boxy vehicle designs cool."