Long before there was Optimus, there was Asimo.
Not a lot of people know this, but Honda was actually experimenting with humanoid robots as far back as the mid-1980s. They were kind of like boxes full of circuitry on legs that became more and more humanlike over time until the big breakthrough came in 2000 with Asimo: the Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility robot. He looked like a child in an astronaut suit and could do all sorts of things, from kicking a ball to making you a drink. While Asimo was never destined for factory work like Tesla CEO claims the Optimus robot will be one day, Honda learned a lot about human-machine interaction until Asimo was retired in 2018.
Now, he’s back—in a manner of speaking. At CES 2025, Honda announced that its first in-house software system for its upcoming 0 Series electric vehicles will be called Asimo OS. And that system will power everything from the management of electronic control units to the infotainment system to automated driving tech.
Photo by: Honda
“The use of the Asimo name pays homage to the beloved Honda Asimo robot and the ‘Wise’ value of the Honda 0 Series,” Honda said in a news release. “Additionally, Honda announced an agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a high-performance system-on-chip, to be introduced on the next generation of 0 Series models in the late 2020s, as well as a new energy service through the Home Energy Management System to enable customers to enjoy a stress-free EV ownership experience with reduced environmental impact.”
Photo by: Honda
Perhaps most importantly, this system will make the 0 Series EVs capable of over-the-air updates, allowing Honda to add new features and even fix issues with software downloads. The entire auto industry is bullish on this capability as it allows manufacturers to make cars “better” over time, but besides a few strong players like Rivian and Tesla (the latter originated this idea), it’s been kind of slow-going across the board.
But the integration of Asimo OS shows how seriously Honda is taking its next-generation EVs: Everything will be built in-house, vertically integrated, controlled by Honda directly and upgradeable over time. So the 0 Series Saloon, SUV and others in the family are more than just new EVs—they represent a Tesla-like end-to-end software and technology experience.
As we’ve covered previously, the 0 Series and Honda’s EV “hubs” in Ohio and Canada represent a kind of do-over strategy for an automaker that’s now lagging behind China’s car companies in not only electrification but also software. These concepts aim to move Honda beyond the excellent gas engines that have defined it for so long and turn it into a global powerhouse for in-car software and electric mobility.
Whether Honda can get there or not remains as uncertain as it does for any so-called “traditional” automaker seeking to make this high-tech transition. Adding to the complication is a recently announced plan for Honda and Nissan to merge, and while those two had already been working on a new technical partnership, it’s unclear what might happen if they’re officially under one roof.
Asimo OS will come equipped on all 0 Series Honda models, including production models of the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Saloon unveiled at CES today. Those cars are confirmed to start production in 2026 in Ohio, and global sales will follow.
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