Honda won’t make any new urban EVs, as the automaker focuses on electric SUVs instead – at least for the European markets. This means that the Honda e will likely be the last of its kind, with no planned replacement when the current generation bows out.
The news was shared by Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda UK, during the launch event for the new Honda e:NY1 which was held in Norway. As reported by Autocar, Adamson said: “There won’t be more cars the size of the Honda e, I can say that confidently. The market demand in the UK is the SUV sector, so that’s why the focus is there. It’s a market-led product line-up. As long as that’s where the market is, we will continue to be SUV driven.”
Review: The Honda e Advance Is A Retro-Futuristic Gadget On Four Wheels
Those comments likely apply to the UK and Europe regions only, as Honda has previously confirmed working on commercial and passenger mini-EVs for Japan as part of its 30-EV offensive by 2030. However, the upcoming affordable electric models are expected to be market-specific, competing in Japan’s kei car segment.
Speaking of the Honda e, the electric supermini debuted in production form in 2019, two years after the concept car. It serves as a halo model for the brand with retro styling, and a tech-filled interior although the limited driving range is one of its weak points.
Honda’s current lineup in Europe comprises three cars and four SUVs. Non-SUV offerings are limited to the Honda e, the Civic, and the Jazz, while high-riding models include the hybrid HR-V, ZR-V, and CR-V, plus the fully electric e:Ny1. The first deliveries of the latter are scheduled for January 2024, with the automaker expecting it to account for 22% of its UK sales by the end of next year.
