Honda clarifies BEV stance for Australia
BY MATT BROGAN | 6th May 2024
HONDA Australia has brought forward estimations that a battery electric vehicle (BEV) will arrive in its local showrooms by 2028.
Speaking with motoring journalists gathered for the recent launch of the new Accord medium sedan in Melbourne, Honda Australia vice president and director Carolyn McMahon said remarks made by herself last year were incorrectly interpreted by the press.
Ms McMahon went on to clarify that BEVs will arrive in local showrooms “before 2028”.
“Many of you often question where we’re up to in terms of electrification, and we’ve explained before that our strategy is very much a stepping stone from electric hybrid technology through then to full battery electric vehicles,” she said.
“We’re still on that strategy and we’ll continue with that (strategy). In terms of when battery electric vehicle technology is headed to Australia … it will be before 2028. I can’t tell you exactly when because we are still firming that up.
“In the background, we are working really hard on Honda’s movement into introducing battery electric (vehicles) into the Australian market, and when we’ve got firm details that we can share, we’ll share that with you.”
Ms McMahon said that Honda Australia would continue to focus on diversifying and broadening its hybrid electric line-up, stating that hybrids are “the right way to go”.
To date, Honda is yet to offer a BEV in Australia, despite having several models to choose from in its global catalogue.
It is also unknown at this point in time whether Honda’s Australian battery electric vehicle debut will coincide with the global arrival of the keenly anticipated ‘0’ (zero) BEV range, which is due to launch in 2026.
“I’m not going to give you that answer today,” said Ms McMahon when pressed on the matter.
Indeed, the Honda Australia boss was keeping her cards close to her chest on a range of battery electric vehicle matters, including the sourcing of BEV models for the local market.
When asked directly if Honda Australia could rule out the sourcing of BEVs from China – in Europe the brand sells the e:Ny1 that is built with Dongfeng in Wuhan – she said: “We will draw on wherever can meet the compliance requirements of the market, (and) can meet the majority of consumer demands from the market.
“At the moment, we’re not ruling anything out. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on specifics today.”
At a global level, Honda has confirmed the ‘0’ will be released in North America in 2026, closely followed by additional battery electric models in Asia and other markets.
