The primary of a brand new technology of electrical automobiles (EVs) from Honda received’t totally be a Honda. However the Japanese automaker expects to catch up quick and be promoting EVs constructed totally by itself platform only a 12 months later.
Honda has an extended historical past with electrical automobiles, having constructed its first in 1997. However the Japanese automaker has been sitting out the speedy electrification of American roads, concentrating on hybrid and even hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles.
That may change subsequent 12 months with the debut of the Honda Prologue. A midsize SUV with an upscale minimalist look, the Prologue will put on a Honda badge. However it received’t totally be a Honda. The Prologue will experience on the Common Motors Ultium platform, and, Honda officers revealed at a briefing this week, will probably be constructed by GM workers in GM factories.
An analogous midsize SUV from Acura, the 2024 Acura ZDX, may even be constructed by GM.
Association Momentary, Might Have Benefits for Buyers
It’s uncommon, although not extraordinary, for automakers to promote merchandise constructed by their rivals. At present, the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra are primarily the identical automobile, each constructed by Toyota. However utilizing GM’s platform and factories may give Honda one other benefit – GM expects its Ultium-based merchandise to qualify for federal EV tax credit that go solely to automobiles in-built North America utilizing parts from the U.S. or sure associate international locations.
At present’s electrical automobiles experience on so-called skateboard platforms – flat mixtures of batteries, electrical motors, and steering and suspension parts that may be scaled up or all the way down to construct many alternative automobile varieties. Ultium is GM’s skateboard unit. It can lay underneath many GM EVs. It can additionally kind the construction and transferring components of each 2024 Honda EVs.
Executives say that utilizing a associate’s platform will purchase Honda time to develop its personal. That course of is properly underway. We’ll see the primary all-Honda EV in 2025. Executives describe it as a “mid- to large-size EV mannequin.” That’s all they’ll reveal for now. However they promise its leisure and knowledge features will probably be pushed by an all-new working system distinctive to Honda.
There’s no phrase on whether or not which means Honda will comply with GM into dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its automobiles.
In the long term, executives stated, Honda is engaged on “next-generation batteries akin to semi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries” that promise longer ranges and quicker charging occasions.