Honda announces RM 33.7k mini-EV for Japan, affordable EV outside of Japan by 2027, to match Toyota with 30 EV models by 2030

• Honda to launch 30 new BEV models by 2030, annual production of 2 million units
• Electric kei cars by 2024, next generation EV Honda N-Van and N-Box hinted
• Affordable EV for USA and Canada by 2027
• Reaffirms commitment to hydrogen fuel cells, despite discontinuation of Clarity FCEV in 2021
• Aims to begin trial production of solid-state batteries by 2024

Four months after Toyota’s grand plan to produce 3.5 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030, with a total model line-up spanning 30 models, Honda Motor has now announced a similarly ambitious commitment.

Currently, Honda only has one battery EV model, the Honda E. There’s also the Honda e:NS1 and e:NP1 but those are China-only models and they're converted from the regular combustion engine-powered Honda HR-V.

Also read: Checkmate? Toyota to sell 3.5 million EVs by 2030, unveils 16 models, 14 more coming - world's largest EV player?

The first of Honda’s new series of battery EVs will be a commercial-use kei minicar. The model will be launched in Japan in 2024 and will be priced at around 1 million Yen (~RM 33.7k).

The model referred to here is most likely the next generation Honda N-Van, which is due for a replacement by 2024.

Two more Japan-only models were mentioned, one tallbox-silhoutte ‘personal use’ mini-EV vehicle and an SUV.

The former could possibly refer to the next generation Honda N-Box, itself a related model to the N-Van. The latter could point to a new SUV that sits between the Honda HR-V and Honda CR-V, possibly a rival to the Nissan Ariya.

These new EV models will ride on Honda’s latest e:Architecture platform that combines EV hardware and software.

Outside of Japan, Honda is committed to launching an ‘affordable battery EV’ for USA and Canada by 2027, jointly developed with GM. Honda says the model will be priced competitively against regular combustion engine-powered models.

Also read: 2024 Honda Prologue SUV announced – Nope, it is not an electric HR-V

In a press briefing in Tokyo earlier today, President and Representative Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said that over the next 10 years, Honda will allocate 5 trillion Yen (~39.9 billion US Dollars) out of its 8 trillion Yen (~63.8 billion US Dollars) R&D budget towards development of electrification- and software-related technologies.

Mibe also explained that the biggest challenge with EVs is less about building them, but securing enough raw materials for battery production.

To that end, Mibe said Honda is adopting a three-pronged approach of having different battery procurement / development parts for different regions.

In North America, Honda will procure Ultium batteries from GM. Separately, aside from GM, Honda is exploring the possibility of creating a joint venture company for battery production.

In China, the company will work with leading battery supplier CATL, while in Japan, Honda will buy batteries from Envision AESC.

There is also mention of solid-state batteries, which Toyota is currently trialing with an LQ prototype. Honda says it aims to start trial production of solid-state batteries by the H1 2024, with a goal of putting them on production EVs in the second half of the 2020s. 

By 2030, Honda aims to produce 2 million battery EVs (1.5 million less than Toyota), covering a full line-up of models, from commercial-use mini-EVs to flagship-class models.

Curiously, just when it was thought that Honda has given up on hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) following the discontinuation of the Honda Clarity FCEV in 2021, Honda now says an EV-only strategy is not realistic, and has reaffirmed its commitment to FCEVs. The company said:

“As the world's largest power unit manufacturer with annual sales of approximately 30 million units of mobility products including motorcycles, automobiles, power products, outboard motors and aircraft, we aim to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050, striving to eliminate carbon emissions from power sources of a wide variety of products. To this end, Honda believes that a multifaceted and multidimensional approach is needed, not a mere replacing of engines with batteries.

“Including the utilization of swappable batteries and hydrogen as well as electrification of automobiles, Honda will offer a variety of solutions for all of its mobility products according to how its customers use the products in various countries and regions.”

Also read: Honda’s fully electric dreams will see the launch of 2 new sports EVs by 2030