Honda's Prologue to mark the brand's EV takeover in the US

Honda announced an initial annual sales target of 70,000 units for the Prologue SUV, Honda’s first new volume battery-electric vehicle (BEV), when it goes on sale in the US in 2024.

Following the launch of Prologue, Honda's electrified vehicle sales will be boosted by the introduction of vehicles based on its new e-Architecture, which is now being developed.

This will take Honda to anticipated sales of 500,000 BEVs by 2030, and ultimately leading to 100 percent zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) sales in North America by 2040.

As with other automakers, the carmaker's initial zero emission vehicle sales goals of 40 percent by 2030 will rely on "fair and equitable access to state and federal EV incentives intended to encourage American consumers to purchase electric vehicles." The carmaker has urged Congress to ensure that all vehicles made in America are treated equally.

“Launching our first volume BEV in 2024 is the start of an exciting new direction for Honda,” American Honda Executive Vice President of National Operations Dave Gardner said. 

“We are working with our dealers to plan the transition from sales of primarily gasoline-powered vehicles to selling 100-percent electric vehicles by 2040,” Gardner added. 

The Prologue's US reach will be regional, focusing on California and the ZEV states, including the BEV-friendly sunbelt states of Texas and Florida. The company anticipates these regions will represent the bulk of sales at launch, due to higher customer acceptance and regulatory requirements. 

As EV infrastructure expands and customer interest grows nationwide, the company will rapidly expand sales and marketing efforts to other areas of the country.

In April 2021, Honda global CEO Toshihiro Mibe outlined the company’s vision for global sales of EVs as part of Honda’s strategy, to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050. This vision calls for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America. 

Following the 2024 introduction of Prologue, co-developed with GM and based on the Ultium platform, Honda will introduce a series of electrified vehicles in the second half of the decade based, and produce BEVs at its North America plants. 

Photos from Honda

Also read:

Honda teases Prologue EV SUV, bares fuel cell tech roadmap

Honda, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to study renewable energy for outer-space applications

Honda SUV e:prototype presented at Auto Shanghai 2021