The future of EV models from Honda will include tech that bears the Sony name. These two giants in their respective industries will collaborate.
Even though these two companies will join forces to create the EV models we’ll see wearing the Honda badge, we’ll still see a few other interesting offerings during the process. In fact, there just might be a few surprises in store when it comes to the various names partnered up to create the electrification we’ll experience on the roads.
Honda Will Use GM Batteries; At First
Honda has been one of the last auto brands to announce any intention to enter the electric vehicle market. Until recently, this brand didn’t seem to have a clear direction toward building electrified models. As we stand right now, there are two partners for Honda. The early Honda EV models will use the GM Ultium battery technology to get this brand off the ground. Sony tech will come later. The Honda brand intends to build its own battery tech in the future. That could start in the form of Kei cars around Japan and eventually expand globally.
Sony has a Car
A Sony-branded car crossed the state at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, showing this tech giant could build a car. This car hit all the right buttons with a sleek design and impressive qualities. When the Sony CEO took the state, he let us in on the fact that this company feels the next big trend is in mobility. If the CEO and company direction are correct, Sony could be on the frontline of transforming the automotive industry with its new partner, Honda.
The Tech Needed for Future Cars is Incredible
Sony isn’t the only tech company entering the automotive industry. As cars become more advanced, various tech gadgets and systems are necessary to ensure continued forward movement for the industry. Apple has its not-so-secret Apple Car and various EV-only and tech companies have experienced stock booms once products and direction announcements have been made. Many of the incumbent car companies in the industry don’t give much stock to tech companies becoming serious threats in their world, but maybe they should. If more partnerships form between the tech sector and the auto industry we might be much closer to self-driving electric cars.
Honda Might be Behind, But They’ve Caught Up
Maybe the final company to announce entrance into the EV world is the one that will be the most aggressive. Honda intends to fully phase-out combustion engine vehicles by 2040. This means every Honda sold after that time will be an electric vehicle with no gasoline or diesel engine in sight. It was Honda that approached Sony to collaborate with the tech company. Thee array of consumer electronics, autonomous driving sensors, and software seem ahead of the rest of the market, making Sony the right company to work with when developing new electric vehicles.
From One EV Onward
One of the greatest challenges Honda faces is a change from their current format. This company has its fingers in everything that uses an internal combustion engine. In fact, two decades ago you could buy a Honda chainsaw with a gas-powered engine. The movement toward electrification might create a divide in some areas of development, but that’s not an entirely bad thing. Currently, Honda offers one EV, the Honda e, which isn’t part of the North American market. This number will increase to 30 by 2030 if Honda reaches its stated goals.
How Many Honda EVs Will We See in 2030?
No, we aren’t repeating ourselves. We know this company plans to have 30 models, but what kind of volume are we talking about? These new Honda EVs with the Sony tech aboard should account for more than 2 million vehicles sold by 2030. This is out of a typical annual production for Honda of 5 million models. This is a seriously lofty goal considering the historical flops of the Honda EV lineup. To reach these goals and avoid the same disasters as before, Honda needs the two partnerships to help them get over the proverbial hump.
What Kind of EV Mix Should We Expect?
Among the 30 models set to arrive before the end of the decade, we should see two sporty models, with one being the successor to the Acura NSX that we admire and has recently left the market. The rest of the lineup should be mostly SUVs of various sizes and possibly one or two trucks. We’re uncertain whether the cars, Civic and Accord, will make it from the gas-powered lineup into the EV world. While these two are certainly extremely popular, they might be replaced by small crossovers.
The First EVs to Arrive in North America
Before Sony has any influence into the Honda electric vehicles, the GM inspiration will present itself. The first two battery-electric SUVs bearing the Honda name will use the Ultium battery technology from General Motors. These models will be the upcoming Honda Prologue SUV and an Acura model. Both are expected to arrive as part of the 2024 model year to be the first EV Honda models. Once these two gain a foothold, the floodgates should open with new models coming every year from 2025 until the end of the decade.
GM Will Work with Honda for Several Years
The GM influence in the Honda EV lineup will be apparent for several years. In fact, these two names will partner for some lower-cost, high-volume EVs that will be part of the 2027 launch. These models should use the next generation of Ultium batteries that are smaller and more affordable than what we see in the market right now. While Honda continues to work to develop the Sony partnership and bring the tech giant into the fold, we will experience various Honda EV models that spell a successful future for this brand.
Honda might be last to the table, but their partnerships with Sony and GM should spell success for their future EV models. It will be interesting to see how the auto world transitions over the next several years.
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