If you think automakers are pulling back on the EV market, don’t tell that to Honda. The Japanese automaker used this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to roll out a trio of battery-powered models, including a high-tech package developed in partnership with Sony, as well as two EVs based on the 0 Series concepts first unveiled at CES a year ago.
While Honda was a pioneer in automotive electrification, launching its first hybrid model a quarter-century ago, it’s been slow to go all-electric. At the moment, it offers just two models, the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX — both developed as part of a joint venture with General Motors.
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, however, the third-largest Japanese automaker made it clear it’s tired of lagging behind rivals like GM, Hyundai, and Volkswagen.
During a Tuesday morning news conference, Honda revealed two new “0 Series” models based on concepts first shown at CES 2024. That followed a Monday night reveal of a third battery-electric model, this one developed in partnership with consumer electronics giant Sony and set to be sold through the new Afeela brand.
Going It Alone
While Honda relied heavily on GM to get into the EV market, the 0 Series models are in-house projects that utilize new, skateboard-like platforms and designs.
Company officials announced that both 0 Series vehicles will make use of the new Asimo OS, “a new original vehicle operating system developed by Honda (which) will offer a customized mobility experience.”
Both the Saloon and SUV will go into production in 2026 at the new Honda EV Hub in Ohio. That should help the automaker sidestep the tariffs President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to put in place on foreign-made EVs and other vehicles.
Honda 0: Pushing Design Limits
The two 0 Series models, an SUV and a “saloon” car, mark a distinctive shift for the automaker, the two EVs adopting decidedly futuristic designs that contrast sharply with the current Prologue and ZDX packages.
Officially described as “concepts,” Honda officials privately confirmed that the models on display at CES 2025 will undergo only the slightest tweaks when they finally go into production. Indeed, they don’t veer much from the prototypes the automaker first revealed in Las Vegas a year ago.
Honda 0 Saloon
The Saloon will serve as the flagship of the new Honda Series 0 family — expected to bring even more all-electric models to market before the end of the decade.
As with the first show car, the near-production package has a distinct Lamborghini feel to the design. Like the old, short-range Honda Clarity, the Saloon adopts what Honda describes as a “thin, light and wise” exterior design language. The cabin puts an emphasis on what the product development team calls the “human-machine interface.” In Honda-speak, that is meant to enable simple and intuitive operations.
Honda plans to first launch the electric Saloon in the U.S. next year and then expand to the Japanese and European markets.
Honda 0 Series SUV
The Honda 0 Series SUV is loosely based on the earlier “Space Hub” concept. It’s a roomy people mover that can become a living room on wheels thanks to the ASIMO-powered operating system, Honda said. If that name is familiar, it borrows heavily from the technology used to run Honda’s old humanoid robot, also known as ASIMO.
It’s the sort of design that other manufacturers have rolled out in recent years to show what travel could be like when fully autonomous driving becomes the norm.
The people-mover will feature steer-by-wire capabilities making it possible to operate in Level 3 autonomy. That goes beyond current semi-autonomous driving systems, such as Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise. That will allow motorists to not only take their hands off the wheel but also their eyes off the road so they can text or watch videos, among other things.
Range, Performance TBA
Honda has yet to offer specific details about the powertrain options for the 0 Series models. But officials have indicated there will be several driveline options for each model, including two- and all-wheel-drive.
They’ve also suggested on background that we will see “competitive” range which, based on competitive EVs, would suggest as much as 300 miles or more per charge.
Honda also indicated it will be setting up a charging network “that enables the customers to enjoy stress-free freedom of mobility and … enabling people to enjoy clean and smart daily lives utilizing EV batteries.”
Sony/Honda AFEELA 1
Honda has taken a different direction with the Sony/Honda AFEELA 1 that the partners revealed during a Monday night CES keynote. The production-intent model doesn’t stray much — if at all — from concept versions the two companies showed off in recent years. And it retains its focus on integrating Sony technology.
“We are very pleased to unveil AFEELA 1, developed for the era of autonomous driving, at CES 2025. AFEELA 1 can be called a buddy, combining advanced software with meticulously refined hardware. We will meet our customers’ expectations by providing a safe, secure, and comfortable travel experience,” said Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno.
If there was one surprise it was the revelation that the electric sedan will start at $89,000, likely limiting its potential customer base.
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