- The Honda Sequence 0 Saloon Idea is predicted to go on sale in 2026.
- Honda says this mannequin will likely be a Honda, not an Acura. It’s deliberate to be Honda’s flagship sedan.
- It will likely be made in Ohio, at Honda’s new EV hub.
The electrical automobile market nonetheless continues to develop, however I might be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that the expansion comes with an asterisk. Gross sales outcomes in addition to commentary from analysts present that worth is without doubt one of the largest roadblocks to EV adoption. However these days, the fire-sale stage lease offers and hefty incentives have little question prospects within the driver’s seat – however let’s be trustworthy right here, most EV progress has been towards the decrease value finish of the EV spectrum. Individuals are craving for reasonable EVs; so it may very well be assumed that Honda’s first effort from its new self-developed would bounce in ft first into the rising market of fairly priced EVs.
However, no, it gained’t. Honda’s executives confirmed that the manufacturing model of the Sequence 0 Saloon Idea gained’t be all that low-cost.
It’s sort of simple to see why, although. Whereas in Japan at Honda’s Tochigi R&D facility, I discovered a ton of particulars about Honda’s forthcoming EV. It’s going to be jam-packed stuffed with cutting-edge softwaer, autonomous driving help options and chassis administration tech. It’s going to have an air suspension, help LIDAR and will probably embrace Stage 3 autonomous driving.
These are very superior applied sciences, however they’re positively not low-cost ones. LIDAR and air suspension are sometimes reserved for costly fashions.
Honda
Honda’s head of BEV improvement, Toshihiro Akiwa, confirmed that a lot throughout a roundtable Q&A session shortly after the drive occasion. The roadmap of Honda’s deliberate fashions utilizing the Sequence 0’s platform begins with the manufacturing of the Saloon idea, which is able to act as Honda’s flagship mannequin for your entire model.
The executives stopped in need of confirming a selected worth, however they did say it might be “lower than a [Tesla] Mannequin S or Mannequin X,” however nonetheless solidly within the premium phase. And sure, when requested straight, will probably be a Honda, not an Acura.
Equally, Honda’s BEV Enterprise Unit Basic Supervisor Mitsuru Kariya insisted that there’s no manner for the Saloon 0 to be low-cost since there are such a lot of items of tech within the automotive because it’s meant to be a flagship mannequin.
Now, this sounds barely troubling. The EV market hasn’t been that sort to costly sedans these days. The Lucid Air might have elevated in gross sales, however the model has overtly struggled to maneuver its very good, however very pricy sedans. The sedan-shaped Volkswagen ID.7 is in limbo for the US, with VW citing a altering market as to why its flagship EV sedan went from coming quickly, to “nicely, perhaps not.” Even at Tesla, the Mannequin S is without doubt one of the model’s worst-selling automobiles (though it is also gone with out important updates for years now.)
Honda
However Honda isn’t involved. Once I requested in regards to the potential of the Saloon 0 to enter a mushy marketplace for massive costly sedans, Kariya mentioned that as a result of Honda’s Sequence 0 will likely be such a brand new platform and design, they consider that alone will entice patrons into the automobile. True, SUVs and crossovers dominate the gross sales charts however Honda’s executives insist that the manufacturing Saloon 0’s design and tech focus will make it really feel rather more particular in comparison with the everyday EV crossover.
It nonetheless appears like an odd transfer, although. Robby DeGraff, Product and Client Insights Analyst at trade analysis agency AutoPacific, agrees.
“The next-priced flagship EV in sedan format looks as if a daring transfer for Honda to attempt to pull off,” DeGraff mentioned. “If it had been perhaps badged as an Acura or much more in-line sizing and pricing-wise with the Accord, then I believe there’d be a higher potential for gross sales. Our analysis has proven there’s usually extra of an curiosity in sedans amongst future EV patrons, credit score the favored Mannequin 3 in fact, and that’s very true amongst future Honda patrons who plan to go all-electric subsequent.”
In accordance with AutoPacific’s 2024 Future Attribute Demand Examine, 52% of EV-interested Honda patrons surveyed are eager about sedans or hatchbacks from the model, however not massive ones. In the event that they wished an EV Honda sedan, they wished a mid-sized sedan or smaller.
“The best curiosity is amongst mid-size sedans or 5-door hatchbacks (28%), significantly greater than a bigger flagship-type physique type,” DeGraff mentioned.
Honda
This isn’t all unhealthy information, although. Honda’s executives had been adamant that the Sequence 0 Saloon was merely the beginning of the model’s EV push. They assured us that cheaper fashions would quickly comply with after the Saloon 0’s manufacturing. It’s all outlined in Honda’s future EV plan: it plans for 2 extra EV crossovers roughly the identical status because the Saloon 0, but in addition a three-row SUV beneath, and finally two extra cheaper SUVs beneath that. Lastly, its plans thus far cease with a compact sedan that shouldn’t be priced too excessive.
The manufacturing model of the Honda Saloon 0 idea is predicted to go on sale in 2026.
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