Honda will collaborate with GM and use its Ultium platform for two electric SUVs under the Honda and Acura brands, arriving in 2024.
Honda has always enjoyed success on American soil, and sales figures have been pretty consistent in the past few years. But when it comes to EVs, Honda is way behind other competitors because it is yet to launch a battery-electric vehicle in the United States.
However, things are going to change soon. In a recent announcement, Honda said that it plans to introduce two EVs in the US by 2024. Moreover, the Japanese brand would launch hybrid variants of its best-selling models in the same timeframe. Although the automaker did not reveal much, it said that one EV would be badged as a Honda, whereas the other would carry the Acura badge.
In January last year, GM and Honda agreed to develop EVs together. Hence, Honda’s electric vehicles will use GM‘s Ultium battery pack architecture, but the Japanese automaker would still take care of the design.
It is safe to say that Honda’s future in America depends on these two vehicles. California’s administration has already announced it would stop sales of combustion vehicles by 2035, with other states following suit.
Additionally, the current Biden administration plans to make the government vehicle fleet all-electric. It is expected that the US government wants to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We are good at a couple of things that seem to be going out of trend with each passing day,” said Dave Gardener, head of Honda’s sales in the US. “We are not denying the fact that we need to start moving quickly in the zero-emission direction.”
Currently, a bulk of Honda’s sales in the US comprises vehicles with pure internal combustion engines. Yes, there are hybrid versions of the CR-V and the Accord, but that’s pretty much it.
Tesla is currently spearheading the EV expansion. Last year, it sold nearly half-million battery-powered vehicles. Ford and Volkswagen have already launched a couple of all-electric vehicles in the US, and they are also witnessing decent sales figures.
