Japanese automaker Honda has detailed its plan to additional the electrification of its world lineup of automobiles over the subsequent 10 years in a briefing streamed right now. Plans embody a large funding in EV expertise, 30 new electrical automobiles launching globally by 2030 and, right here within the US, two new devoted electrical SUVs for its Honda and Acura manufacturers. If that wasn’t sufficient, we have been teased with the announcement that two new electrified sports activities automobiles are additionally in growth.

Honda wrapped up its electrification street map with the announcement of two new sports activities automobile fashions in growth.

Honda

Over the subsequent 10 years, Honda will make investments round 5 trillion yen (roughly $40 billion) within the growth of electrification and associated software program applied sciences — the lion’s share of the automaker’s complete Eight trillion yen ($64 billion) R&D price range for a similar interval. 

Beginning with vitality storage, Honda has beforehand introduced a partnership with GM to acquire Ultium lithium-ion batteries to be used in its automobiles. Honda can be exploring different partnerships separate from GM and exploring the opportunity of creating a brand new three way partnership firm for battery manufacturing. And past lithium-ion tech, Honda can even make investments round 43 billion yen ($343 million) within the growth and manufacturing of solid-state batteries, with early proof-of-concept manufacturing deliberate to come back on-line in spring 2024.

In North America, Honda will launch two new electrical SUVs by 2024: the brand new Honda Prologue and an Acura-branded mannequin.

Honda

With batteries sorted, Honda is planning 30 new EV fashions launching globally by 2030, constructing to a aim of constructing and delivering 2 million EVs yearly when all is alleged and finished. In North America, we are able to anticipate to see the primary fruits of that labor as early as 2024, when Honda plans to launch two new “mid- to large-size EV fashions” developed collectively with GM. This consists of an all-new Honda Prologue SUV and an as-yet-unnamed Acura electrical SUV mannequin. 

In its homeland of Japan, Honda will launch a 1 million yen ($8,000) industrial mini EV, main the way in which for a spread of personal-use mini-EVs and e-SUVs. In the meantime, 10 new EV fashions will roll out in China by 2027. Again within the States, the automaker additionally plans to start rolling out a spread of extra inexpensive EVs in alliance with GM after 2027, with “a price and vary that might be as aggressive as [those of] gasoline-powered automobiles.”

The long run flagship sport mannequin’s proportions trace at a new-generation of Honda’s mid-engined NSX.

Honda

Earlier than dropping the cherry on high of this smorgasbord of bulletins, Honda drew consideration to its beforehand introduced three way partnership to develop EVs with Sony, reiterating its plans to “launch software-defined extremely value-added EVs” by 2025. Honda representatives clarified that this might be a separate lineup from the aforementioned Honda merchandise, however that classes realized from Sony within the areas of superior software program and leisure could discover their method into future Honda merchandise.

Lastly, Honda President Toshihiro Mibe took the stage to announce that the automaker is “enthusiastic about the launch of two sport fashions.” Honda is creating a specialty mannequin and a flagship mannequin that might be launched globally and can “embody Honda’s common sports activities mindset and distinctive traits.”

Is that this the subsequent S2000, a reimagined Prelude or one thing fully new?

Honda

Offered as silk-cloaked renderings, the mid-engine proportions of one of many fashions appear to trace at a rebirth of Honda’s NSX — an already electrified supercoupe that lives beneath the Acura model right here within the States and that simply exited manufacturing with a ultimate run of Sort S fashions. The opposite’s front-engined proportions elevate extra questions: Most definitely this could be the return of Honda’s S2000, however may it even be a reimagining of the Prelude or one thing fully new with rear- and even all-wheel drive? We’ll have to attend and see what Honda is cooking up for the longer term.

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