Honda Takes the Wraps off 0 Series EV Prototypes
With the Honda Prologue rocketing up the sales charts, Honda is hoping to keep the momentum going with the unveiling of two EV prototypes at CES.
The Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV prototypes were unveiled at CES a year concept vehicles of the two vehicles debuted at the same annual tech conference. Both EVs will enter production in 2026 at Honda's Ohio EV Hub. These will be the automaker's first two vehicles based on the 0 Series platform.
As with most vehicle prototypes, there will have to be some changes to the design of the vehicles to meet safety regulations. But the main designs should stay the same. The vehicles will launch in North America first before landing in other markets.
The 0 Series SUV will be the first to enter production. This has become the norm for automakers bringing new vehicles and platforms to the United States. The market's desire for SUVs outweighs its demand for cars. Honda is planning to bring this vehicle to market in the first half of 2026.
The wedge 0 Series Saloon is expected to land in North America in the second half of 2026.
Both vehicles evoke a late 70s futuristic design language and are both expected to be outfitted SAE level 3 driver assistance. Currently, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the only vehicle available in the United States with this level of driver assistance. Level 3 allows the driver – in certain circumstances – to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. The Mercedes system only allows this while on traveling on pre-mapped highways and at speeds below 40 miles per hour and during clear weather conditions.
It's likely that Honda's system will have the same set of guardrails on its level 3 system.
Both vehicles will receive Honad's new ASIMO OS. With a name that harkens to the Asimo robot from 20 years ago. Honda says the in-house built software will have "integrated management of electronic control units (ECUs) for vehicle systems such as automated driving/advanced driver assistance systems (AD/ADAS) and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system."
The operating system will be installed in all upcoming 0 Series vehicles. These two vehicles are Honda's return to EVs and public-facing robotics on its own terms.
After ending production of the all-electric Hond Clarity in 2020, Honda hasn't kept up with the electric vehicles offerings of competitors like Hyundai and GM. To bring the Prologue to market, Honda partnered with GM to use that automaker's electric vehicle platform (formerly known as Ulitum).
In the past few years Honda has announced that would strike out on its own with the 0 Series platform and has seemingly made significant progress on bringing solid-state battery-powered vehicles to market by the end of the decade. It recently showed off the solid-state production test line.
The automaker has also entered into a agreement with Nissan to explore a merger. Nissan, Leaf EV has been on the market for over a decade (since 2010). That experience could help Honda as it focuses even more on electric vehicles.
No word on pricing for either Honda 0 Series vehicle.