LOS ANGELES — American Honda is setting a goal of 70,000 in annual gross sales for the Prologue crossover that it’ll launch in 2024 on a platform developed by Basic Motors.
And because the Japanese firm develops its personal EV platform all through the last decade, Honda expects to achieve half 1,000,000 EV gross sales in North America by 2030 on its strategy to turning into a completely zero-emissions automaker by 2040, the corporate stated Monday.
“Launching our first quantity BEV in 2024 is the beginning of an thrilling new course for Honda,” stated Dave Gardner, government vice chairman of nationwide operations at American Honda. “We’re working with our sellers to plan the transition from gross sales of primarily gasoline-powered autos to promoting one hundred pc electrical autos by 2040.”
Honda stated its EV gross sales objectives are depending on receiving truthful and equitable entry to state and federal EV incentives within the U.S. Honda and different worldwide automakers have voiced opposition to a proposal by the Biden administration that will give larger incentives to autos made in U.S. factories with unionized staff.
“Honda has urged Congress to make sure that all autos made in America are handled equally,” the corporate stated.
Within the U.S., Honda will initially focus EV gross sales in states that observe California’s zero-emissions framework, the so-called ZEV states, together with Texas and Florida.
“Honda anticipates these areas will signify the majority of gross sales on the onset of launch because of larger buyer acceptance and regulatory necessities,” it stated. “As EV infrastructure expands and buyer curiosity grows nationwide, the corporate will quickly broaden gross sales and advertising efforts to different areas of the nation.”
The Honda crossover will use GM’s Ultium platform and batteries, however Honda will develop the automobile’s physique fashion and inside. The Honda-GM enterprise additionally will develop a battery-electric Acura crossover for the 2024 calendar yr, the corporate stated. The Prologue is predicted to go on sale in early 2024 and the Acura later that yr.
Honda already makes a small EV for the Japan and European markets, marketed merely because the “e.” However that automobile is taken into account a distinct segment product, whereas Honda expects the Prologue to be its first quantity EV.
Honda has stated that its purpose of one hundred pc zero-emission gross sales by 2040 will embody each battery-electric fashions and hydrogen gas cell autos.