Honda Australiais set to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) in the second half of 2026, but the brand hasn’t confirmed what it will be – though one particular vehicle appears the most likely.
It has announced its interest in the 0 Series EVs – due on sale in the US in early 2026 – for a local launch “beyond 2026 and into 2027”. Before that, however, it has committed to introducing an unspecified EV in the second half of 2026.
A range of EV models from around the world are at the brand’s disposal, potentially, with Jay Joseph moving from Honda USA after 27 years to take over as Honda Australia CEO in April 2025.
Mr Joseph told CarExpert his internal network at Honda means he’s already in talks on which vehicles from the global lineup could work here, increasing the chances of a local berth for many previously out-of-reach overseas models.
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The company also sees its biggest growth opportunities in SUVs, the dominant sector in Australia since 2017 as popularity of traditional passenger cars has declined.
That makes the Honda e:Ny1, an electric SUV already offered in the UK and New Zealand, an odds-on favourite for Honda Australia showrooms.
While the e:Ny1 sold in the UK is made in China, the New Zealand version is made in Thailand, where various Australian Honda models have been sourced for decades.
Based on the HR-V small SUV already sold here, the e:Ny1 starts at $NZ52,000 (A$47,450) compared to the HR-V’s $NZ45,800 (A$41,800) kick-off, and uses a 150kW/310Nm front-axle mounted motor and a 68.8kWh lithium-ion battery for 500km of range on the more lenient NEDC cycle.
It’s unclear if Mr Joseph’s North American ties will give the 2025 Honda Prologue large electric SUV, co-developed with US car giant General Motors, a greater chance for a local debut.
The Prologue is likely to be more expensive than anything currently in Honda Australia’s showrooms, given it’s larger than anything Honda currently offers here, and uses a GM platform shared with vehicles such as the Cadillac Lyriq.
In the US, it starts at around 50 per cent more than the entry-level Honda CR-V, with its business case made more challenging by its current left-hand drive-only production in Mexico.
Another possibility for Australia – but also left-hand drive-only at present – is a new generation of Honda EVs announced in China in 2024, with the first models now in showrooms there.
The Honda Ye Series announcement included plans for six models to be launched specifically for China by 2027, joining the previously launched e:N Series of EVs already in Chinese showrooms.
The first Ye Series were the P7 and S7 SUVs, both using a new dedicated ‘Yunchi’ electric architecture and using lithium-ion batteries made by CATL.
Honda is also developing new battery tech with CATL, the automaker having started an assembly line earlier in 2025 to test mass-production of cheaper, longer-range solid-state EV batteries.
The P7 and S7 are both 4750mm long, or slightly longer than the CR-V SUV currently in Australian showrooms, and feature a single rear-axle motor, 89.8kWh battery and 650km of driving range on the CLTC cycle.
Both currently start at ¥199,000 ($AU42,482) in China, around the same as the highest-spec Zeekr X SUV, which in Australia tops out at $64,900.
The third Ye Series model, the fastback Honda GT, was launched in April 2025.
In its home market, Honda also has an electric kei-class van, and recently revealed the N-One e electric passenger car. However, while these are built in right-hand drive, these are likely too small for our market.
While Honda pulled back on its target to have 30 per cent of its global sales be EVs by 2030, the automaker remains committed to a Net Zero goal by 2050 by any means.