Honda introduces two electric sports car models, increasing investment fees for electric vehicles
On Tuesday, Honda announced plans to invest more than $40 billion in R&D over the next 10 years, with a focus on software development and electric vehicles.
The automaker plans to roll out 30 EVs globally by 2030 and aims to produce around two million EVs a year by then. Those plans include two electric sports cars, which Honda revealed as part of the announcement.
This is not the first time Honda has introduced electric sports cars. The Concept sports EV coupe turned around in 2017, but never advanced to development. Before that, it provided EV-STER . Concept in 2012. But these new models appear to be limited production cars, rather than just concepts.
Honda did not discuss a timeline for the two sports cars or confirm whether they are slated to arrive in the United States. The automaker’s North American EV push will begin in 2024 with two models based on General Motors’ Ultium platform – the Honda Prologue SUV and an unnamed Acura SUV.
Introduction of Honda’s dedicated sports electric car model
The Prologue will be Honda’s first electric vehicle for the US market in years, after the Clarity Electric discontinued production following the 2019 model year. The automaker previously said it was targeting 70,000 US annual sales for the Prologue.
Honda also plans to buy Ultium batteries from GM, but said it will also pursue an independent battery joint venture with the US automaker. In China and Japan, Honda’s battery suppliers will be CATL and Envision AESC respectively.
These battery supply plans will underpin the launch of 10 new electric vehicle models in China by 2027. In Japan, Honda says it will focus on “mini-electric vehicles,” starting with one model. Small commercial vehicle to launch in early 2024.
Honda is also planning a dedicated EV production line in North America and has hinted that some of its EV development may be taking place in the US — with wind tunnel addition workperhaps — at the special request of a sports car.
