Honda does a U turn on EVs

[Jader1973]

Huge announcement today that Honda have cancelled the launch of their 3 US 0 Series models - the SUV, Saloon, and Acura RSX.

It’s a massive change in direction given the SUV and RSX were due to launch soon, so must be pretty much production ready.

It seems they’ve decided the US EV market is not worth entering, even with product that is good to launch.

https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2026/c260312...

I was looking forward to seeing the Saloon.

[sixor8]

The only EV they sell in the UK now is the eNy1. Hence all the PCP deals to shift some, they're way behind on the ZEV mandate, as are other Japanese manufacturers.

[samoht]

Some comment here https://www.theautopian.com/honda-is-canceling-all... - basically sounds like it was based on taking advantage of Biden's financial support for US-built and sold EVs, which has now obviously been withdrawn.


I have to say, cancelling your EV lineup just in the teeth of an oil crisis shows the same sense of foresight, strategy and timing as, say, withdrawing from F1 just as you win the championship. The subsequent U-turn on that particular decision is, shall we say, not going well. (or going at all, for much of the Aussie GP).

[Robertb]

This current round of oil price increases might start to cause a few fence-sitters to look again at EVs. I know I am.

The prospect of lobbing over £120+ of fuel into my 350d just to get to work for a couple of weeks is just too depressing.

[Doesitdrive]

sixor8 said:

The only EV they sell in the UK now is the eNy1. Hence all the PCP deals to shift some, they're way behind on the ZEV mandate, as are other Japanese manufacturers.

You have to wonder who is right though, the Japanese who have had car building and selling right for years, or those that are pushing the EV agenda ?

Toyota didn't go to in when diesel was all the rage really, given Government direction towards them, stuck to petrol hybrid.

Time will tell I guess.

[andy43]

samoht said:

I have to say, cancelling your EV lineup just in the teeth of an oil crisis shows the same sense of foresight, strategy and timing as, say, withdrawing from F1 just as you win the championship. The subsequent U-turn on that particular decision is, shall we say, not going well. (or going at all, for much of the Aussie GP).

Timing

[Skodillac]

Honda doing a Nokia here, when the latter decided it would go with its own smartphone OS, then Windows Phone, instead of Android.

[GT9]

Doesitdrive said:

You have to wonder who is right though, the Japanese who have had car building and selling right for years, or those that are pushing the EV agenda ?

Toyota didn't go to in when diesel was all the rage really, given Government direction towards them, stuck to petrol hybrid.

Time will tell I guess.

Japan has little capacity to increase home-grown renewable electricity generation.
The EV value chain for decarbonised well-to-wheel transport doesn't work particularly well in their domestic market.
The production of hydrogen from their existing nuclear generation plants and the import of green hydrogen (at great expense no doubt) forms the backbone of their decarbonisation strategy.
EVs for road transport in the UK forms the backbone of ours.
There is no' right or wrong' globally, just what fits best for each nation.
We have a relatively long and shallow coastline that lends itself to being populated with (sufficient) wInd turbines and is by far the most cost effective and energy efficient way to decarbonise UK road transport.
It's also delivers by far the lowest ongoing carbon footprint, essentially forever after, supported of course by onshore wind, solar, interconnects, nuclear and whatever biomass makes sense.
That's just how it is and whilst I'm sure the prospect of soulless cars relying on the wind that doesn't always blow gets many people hot under the collar, it's the best hand we've got.
The cost of personal transport (and the geopolitical risks) associated with fossil fuel consumption is only going one way.

[plfrench]

Doesitdrive said:

You have to wonder who is right though, the Japanese who have had car building and selling right for years, or those that are pushing the EV agenda ?

Toyota didn't go to in when diesel was all the rage really, given Government direction towards them, stuck to petrol hybrid.

Time will tell I guess.

I think we’ll just see the Japanese manufacturers giving up on selling in the UK that’s all. They’ve really left it a bit late now and are slipping too far behind to bother now.

[Night Owl]

samoht said:

Some comment here https://www.theautopian.com/honda-is-canceling-all... - basically sounds like it was based on taking advantage of Biden's financial support for US-built and sold EVs, which has now obviously been withdrawn.


I have to say, cancelling your EV lineup just in the teeth of an oil crisis shows the same sense of foresight, strategy and timing as, say, withdrawing from F1 just as you win the championship. The subsequent U-turn on that particular decision is, shall we say, not going well. (or going at all, for much of the Aussie GP).

You are no strategist, sir. That much is clear.

[ashenfie]

I suppose it makes sense for the US market. Pulling of EV subsidies and the drill bay drill attitude mean many European manufactures are dusting off those V8 and lining them up for export. I don't think it means any more than that and they are definitely not alone in dumping EVs tin the US. In 5 years time who know the direct of travel.

[bloomen]

plfrench said:

I think we ll just see the Japanese manufacturers giving up on selling in the UK that s all. They ve really left it a bit late now and are slipping too far behind to bother now.

I don't really pay much attention to Japanese manufacturers, but it does seem like many have faded away big time.

As for the emissions/ EV thing, Suzuki badge engineered a bunch of Toyotas to meet it. Maybe they'll all end up selling the same single EV model made by whoever.