- A new report claims Honda is considering selling a sub-$30,000 electric vehicle in North America.
- The vehicle would be built in the U.S., likely at Honda’s new EV manufacturing hub in Ohio.
- Production could begin in 2026.
Honda’s presence in the electric vehicle segment puts it behind many of its rivals, but the Japanese automaker wants to change that with the upcoming 0 Series of vehicles. The smallest of these EVs will cost less than $30,000, and one report says there’s a strong chance it will be sold in North America.
Japanese outlet Nikkei says that Honda intends to build the model locally in North America to allow it to comply with regulations and not incur import duties that will likely be increased under the Trump administration, even for vehicles not manufactured in China. This would also allow the model to qualify for the federal tax credit, which should lower its price tag closer to $20,000. However, the future of the $7,500 incentive is also uncertain after the government changed its stance on EVs under the new administration.
Honda hasn’t decided whether it will sell its smallest EV, which is designed as a global model, in America. There’s an acute lack of affordable EVs in the U.S. (although some cheaper models did arrive in 2024), and Honda could capitalize on this and corner the segment. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Honda confirmed that the goal is for the 0 Series EVs to cover all price brackets. But he declined to confirm whether this one would make it to the U.S.
“Honda 0 series covers models globally of all sizes and price ranges” Andrew Quilling, senior manager of public relations at American Honda, told InsideEVs via email. “At this time, only two models have been confirmed for North America—the 0 SUV and 0 Saloon, both previewed at CES. We aren’t going to speculate about this model.”
The manufacturer is setting up an EV manufacturing hub made up of four factories in Ohio. The first vehicle to come out of Honda EV Hub Ohio will be the new Acura RSX, reimagined as an electric coupe crossover. If the new affordable EV is built on the same dedicated EV architecture as the Acura, then it’s plausible to presume it could also be built in Ohio.
It could also roll off the production line at Honda’s new EV plant in Ontario, where it wants to set up a four-factory EV manufacturing supply chain complete with battery plants. The plan is to begin EV production in Canada in 2028, which doesn’t align with the reported production plans for the new affordable EV, which should hit the market sooner, in 2026.
The only two Honda 0 Series models we’ve seen so far are the Saloon and SUV concepts, which have a matching aesthetic but very different designs. This means there’s no way to speculate what kind of vehicle the sub-$30,000 EV will be and what body style it may have. The most likely is a crossover of sorts.
The Honda 0 Series will consist of seven new global EVs “ranging in size from small to large,” which should be launched by 2030, per Honda. Honda has made it a mission to introduce “attractive EVs,” and the two concepts it’s shown so far have been very well received, even with their very bold design choices. It also wants to infuse these EVs with the “joy of driving,” and it’s even working on an electric Type-R.
One of the highlights of this new line of EVs that Honda will introduce, starting with the production version of the Saloon concept, is their focus on weight reduction. Honda says it’s managed to shave 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of weight per vehicle compared to its previous generation of EVs, and combined with excellent aerodynamics and battery advancements, it promises all models will have over 300 miles (482 km) of EPA range.
The Honda EVs we’ve driven in the last few years were never among the best. While we wanted the cutesy Honda e (which we tested and liked) to succeed, it was too expensive, heavy and polarizing to become a hit, and Honda didn’t even try to sell it in America. The most recent Honda EV I tried, the e:NY1, which was touted as a preview of the manufacturer’s new EV platform, was also lacking in several important areas and generally seemed half-baked.
The new sub-$30,000 electric Honda could be akin to a direct successor to the e:NY1, but with a bolder design, improved specs and a more engaging driving experience. Honda will likely preview it with a concept, which should be shown this year if the plan really is to begin production in 2026.
Honda currently only sells one EV in the U.S., the Prologue, which is manufactured by General Motors using its Ultium EV technology. Even though it’s not a Honda-designed and built model, the Prologue proved quite popular among EV buyers last year. So Honda buyers are ready for EVs, if they’re affordable. That could make an affordable, homegrown Honda EV a natural success. Let’s hope they bring it here.
