Honda, Avidly Taking Over The EV Industry With Its New Electrification Strategy In China

Honda held a virtual press conference with announcements of some major development, significantly, its comprehensive electrification strategy in China.

Said strategy consists of new environmental and safety initiatives, along with a world premiere of two planned production models and three concept models of Honda-brand electric vehicles (EV).

First and foremost, the environmental and safety targets. To realise a sustainable society, Honda has been fully committed to addressing environmental and safety challenges. 

Particularly, back in April of this year, the brand announced its new goals to realise both ‘carbon neutrality’ and ‘zero traffic collision fatalities’ by 2050.

By accelerating its initiatives in each region around the world toward the realisation of these goals, Honda has further implemented proactive measures in China.

These initiatives in China will see an increase to the ratio of EVs and FCVs within overall unit sales to 40 percent by 2030, 80 percent by 2035, and 100 percent by 2040.

Notably, to achieve these targets speedily and steadily in China after 2030, Honda will no longer introduce any new gasoline-powered models and will electrify all new models entering the market.

Speaking of the latter, Honda has introduced the first Honda-brand EVs in China. Dubbed the e:N Series, it offers a new driving pleasure unique to Honda EVs.

Interestingly, the name ‘e:N’ represents Honda’s desire to energise people who are trying to do things based on their own initiative in this era of electrification. 

To break it down, the ‘e:’ is from ‘e:Technology’, the collective brand name for Honda’s electrification technologies with which Honda strives for carbon neutrality. 

Whereas the letter ‘N’ stands for ‘New/Next’, representing new value creation for the next generation of mobility. 

Illustrating further, the e:N Series is being developed with the series concept that consists of three aspects, ‘Dynamic, Intelligence and Beauty’.

With this concept, Honda strives to embody new value by advancing original technologies Honda has amassed to date to realise next-generation driving pleasure. 

Looking at the ‘Dynamic’ aspect, the e:N Architecture developed exclusively for the e:N Series generates a sense of unity between the driver and the vehicle.

For the ‘Intelligence’ aspect, it features the e:N OS, an integrated system consisting of Honda SENSING, Honda CONNECT and a smart Digital Cockpit, which creates a safe space for mobility.  

Third, the Beauty aspect, which is the e:N Design. A design that expresses the beauty unique only to EVs enables e:N Series models to feature unique styling that signifies the future.

The first set of the e:N Series comes in the guises of the e:NS1 and e:NP1, and will feature sporty and exhilarating driving unique to Honda. 

Production of the e:NS1 and e:NP1 models will go on sale in spring of 2022 from Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda, respectively.

On top of that, Honda plans to introduce ten e:N Series models over the next five years, and also envisions exporting these models from China.

Besides that, Honda is also offering three concept models that will expand the e:N Series line-up, named the e:N COUPE Concept, e:N SUV Concept and e:N GT Concept.

Akin to the production series, Honda also aims to start sales of these new models within the next five years.

That said, to ensure continuous delivery of an increasing number of the e:N Series, Honda’s electrification strategy in China will focus on the sales, production and battery supply system.

In the area of sales, timed with the sales of e:NS1 and e:NP1, an area dedicated to the e:N Series will be created at approximately 1,200 existing Honda dealership locations around China. 

Moreover, further ahead, Honda is planning to launch dedicated e:N dealerships in major cities of China, which will specialise in sales of the e:N Series models. 

As for the production that starts in 2024, both GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda will strengthen their separate production systems by constructing new and environmentally friendly EV plants.

Next, the batteries. Being vital to the speedy operation of its electrification strategy, Honda will accelerate collaboration with its strategic partner, CATL, and strengthen its battery supply system.

Furthermore, Honda is also planning global exports of e:N Series models developed and produced in China to deliver new value to a greater number of customers worldwide. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin are the initiatives Honda is taking in China toward achieving zero traffic collision fatalities.

Now, it is known that Honda is one of the forerunners in putting several safety and driver-assistive technologies into practical application. 

Thus, in striving to lead efforts to realise a ‘collision-free society’, Honda will remain committed to pursue continuous advancement and popularisation of safety technologies.

And at the core of these safety technologies is Honda SENSING 360 omnidirectional Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS).

Therefore, the application of Honda SENSING 360 will begin in China in 2022 and will be expanded globally.

Above all, Honda will strive to expand the application to all models to go on sale in all of the world’s major markets, including China by 2030.

Overall, with its new electrification strategy in China, Honda is avidly working towards realising its 2030 vision of to ‘serve people worldwide with the joy of expanding their life’s potential’.