Honda to launch seven global EVs under its ‘0’ Series’ – 100% electrification by 2040 target maintained

Honda to launch seven global EVs under its ‘0’ Series’ – 100% electrification by 2040 target maintained

At Honda’s recent business briefing, the Japanese carmaker outlined its electrification initiatives and investment strategy for the coming years. To kick things off, the company said it has not changed it belief that electric vehicles (EVs) are the most effective solution in the area of small mobility products such as motorcycles and automobiles.

As such, it is maintaining its electrification target to make EVs and FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) represent 100% of its global vehicle sales by 2040. Looking at the trend from a longer-term perspective, Honda is confident that the EV shift will continue to proceed steadily,” said Honda’s director, president and representative executive officer (global CEO), Toshihiro Mibe.

“Without getting too caught up in the current changes in the situation, Honda must look ahead to the period of EV popularisation, which will begin in the second half of the 2020s and build a strong EV brand and a strong EV business from a medium- to long-term perspective,” he added.

Honda to launch seven global EVs under its ‘0’ Series’ – 100% electrification by 2040 target maintained

The company is also sticking to its plan announced three years ago to make EVs and FCEVs represent 40% of its global auto sales by 2030, and to produce more than two million EVs. To support the planned production, Honda will establish a vertically-integrated EV value chain with a central focus on batteries.

The targets set for this initiative include reducing the cost of batteries procured in North America by more than 20% compared to what’s current by 2030. This will be backed by the joint venture with LG Energy Solution, which will see an EV battery plant with an annual capacity of 40 GWh begin operations in 2025.

The company is also working with GS Yuasa in Canada to develop EV batteries for in-house production. Honda will then proceed to internalise production by producing cathode materials with POSCO Future M, and separators with Asahi Kasei, at our respective new joint venture plants to be constructed. A competitive business structure will also be set up with the aim of reducing overall production cost by approximately 35%.

Honda to launch seven global EVs under its ‘0’ Series’ – 100% electrification by 2040 target maintained

On the matter of products, the Honda 0 Series – a global EV series – will consist of seven models to be launched globally by 2030 covering various segments. These vehicles will follow the company’s M/M (Man Maximum, Machine Minimum) concept and are expected to be about 100 kg lighter compared to its initial EVs.

The first of the 0-branded EVs will be introduced in the second half of the 2020s and come with a digital UX (user experience), system-on-chip (SOC) for AI, comprehensive ADAS and a core ECU, the last of which consolidates multiple ECUs to form a single “brain” for the entire vehicle.

For the Chinese market, a total of 10 Honda-brand EVs will be introduced by 2027, with EVs set to represent 100% of automobile sales in China by 2035. The Ye series has already been unveiled there to join the e:N series currently available.

In Japan, the N-Van e:, a commercial-use small EV, will go in sale in the fall, while this year will see the introduction of electric motorcycles powered by the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: (MPP). Within fiscal year 2026 (FY2026), two more vehicles with MPPs will be launched.

As for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), Honda says there is still strong demand for such models in the market, so it will continue to further advance performance and enhance the line-up globally.

Naturally, these initiatives require a fair bit of investment, which is why Honda is planning to invest approximately 10 trillion yen (about RM300 billion) in resources over a 10-year period through FY2031.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • anonymous on May 17, 2024 at 10:57 am

    just watch them claim it as ‘global EV series’ but excludes every developing nations as usual (includes malaysia)…perhaps in 2040 honda malaysia will still be bragging about their lane watch on a honda city hatchback that still runs on the 1.5L engine you see today.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Pro-Palestine on May 17, 2024 at 5:21 pm

    Japan is too late to the game. The Chines is already miles and years ahead in EV tech. No chance for Japan to catch up especially with battery manufacturing. All the top EV tech is patented by Tesla and the Chine car maker

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
  • seitha on May 18, 2024 at 11:28 am

    Honda EV design shape looks like poop!
    I will still prefer the Honda Civic RS or CRV Rs over the EV

    Anyway, EV is a world wide scam to have total control over humanity!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ProMangosteen on May 18, 2024 at 9:51 pm

    Please visit EV graveyard somewhere near the Yellow River

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Pro Ovaltine on May 19, 2024 at 9:15 am

    We must appreciate this japanese effort without sapu tech which for me is jatuh muka same as copy during exam. Small nation with big brains. Cannot saying same about jiran big nation small thinking.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ROTI CANAI on May 19, 2024 at 9:40 am

    but all are SUVS

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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