Honda Premieres The '0 Series'; Unveils Two Global EV Concept Models

Honda has unveiled the “Honda 0 Series,” a new EV series Honda will launch globally starting in 2026, with the world premiere of two concept models, namely Saloon and Space-Hub, at the CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Honda also presented the world premiere of the new H mark to be used exclusively for the next-generation EV models of Honda. Honda has been conducting business based on its Global Brand Slogan: The Power of Dreams – How we move you. This slogan conveys the message that Honda will create mobility products and services which enable people to “transcend various constraints such as time and place,” and to “augment their abilities and possibilities.” With such mobility products and services, Honda will support the realisation of dreams of more people and become the driving force that moves society forward.

Moreover, Honda is aiming to realise carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050. To this end, the company is pursuing electrification to achieve its automobile electrification target of “increasing the ratio of EV and FCEV sales to 100 per cent globally by 2040.

The Honda 0 Series is a new EV series that symbolises how Honda is undergoing a major transformation in line with its Global Brand Slogan and electrification policy. The series name represents Honda’s determination in taking on this challenge of developing new EV series by going back to the starting point of Honda as an automaker and creating completely new EVs from “zero.”  With this new EV series, Honda will strive to further advance its “M/M concept (man maximum, machine minimum)” and the “joy of driving,” which Honda values in its car making, and take the “joy and freedom of mobility” to even greater heights.

In 2026, Honda will begin introducing the first model of the Honda 0 Series globally, starting from North America, then to Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and South America. 

The man maximum, machine minimum concept is a basic approach to Honda car design, an approach to increase the efficiency of the vehicle interior by maximizing space for people and minimizing the space required for mechanical components.  

Honda EVs, which will be built based on this development approach and feature a dedicated EV architecture, will offer the following five core values:

♦ Artistic design that evokes resonance

♦ AD/ADAS that ensures safety and peace of mind

♦ A “space” for people made possible by the internet of things and connected technologies

♦ The joy of driving with the feeling of oneness with the vehicle

♦ Outstanding electricity efficiency performance 

Moreover, in the second half of the 2020s, Honda 0 Series models will feature an AD (automated driving) system and will be offered as more affordable EVs featuring more automated driving functions. In particular, Honda 0 Series models will feature e-Axles with excellent power conversion efficiency and packaging, lightweight, high-density battery packs and excellent aerodynamic performance, targeting a sufficient range while minimising the battery capacity loaded on the vehicle.

Moreover, to address concerns about “charging time” and “battery degradation,” which have been the challenge facing the popularisation of EVs, Honda 0 Series models will offer stress-free charging performance and worry-free battery performance that minimises degradation over many years of use. For the 0 Series models to be launched in the second half of the 2020s, fast-charging 15 to 80 per cent will be shortened to about 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, by applying battery system control technology refined based on a massive amount of driving data from over 1 million units of Honda electrified vehicles, Honda is striving to limit the degradation of battery capacity (range) to less than 10 per cent after 10 years of use.

The Saloon Concept

The Saloon is the flagship concept model of the Honda 0 Series, which embodies the “Thin, Light, and Wise” approach. The dedicated EV architecture extends the degree of freedom in design and elevates the M/M concept in the era of EVs. The low height, sporty styling that sets the Saloon apart from other EVs at first glance realises both a fascinating design and an interior space that is more spacious than people can imagine based on the exterior appearance. Moreover, the instrument panel features a human-machine interface (HMI) that enables simple and intuitive operations, realising a sophisticated and seamless user interface (UI).

With the adoption of steer-by-wire and the further advancement of the motion management system, including posture control, that Honda has amassed through the development of original robotics technologies, the Saloon aims to realize control at the will of the driver in a variety of driving situations. As the flagship model of the Honda 0 Series, the Saloon pursues the ultimate “joy of driving” in the EV era. Furthermore, including the use of sustainable materials for the interior and exterior, the Saloon is being developed as a unique model that resonates with users and the natural environment.

The Space-hub Concept

Under the common design language of the Honda 0 Series, the Space-Hub was developed under the theme of “augmenting people’s daily lives.” Realising a spacious cabin and excellent visibility based on the “Thin, Light, and Wise” development approach, the Space-Hub offers a flexible space that immediately accommodates what the users want to do, and becomes a hub that connects people to people and people to society, generating mutual resonance with each other.

The New H Mark

The current “H mark” has a long history, dating back to 1981 when it was renewed from the previous version. To commemorate the development of the next-generation EVs, Honda decided to design a new H mark, which represents Honda automobiles, to express Honda’s determination to pursue the transformation as well as Honda’s corporate attitude of going beyond the origin of Honda and constantly pursuing new challenges and advancements. This design expression, like two outstretched hands, represents Honda’s commitment to augment the possibilities of mobility and sincerely serve the needs of the users of Honda EVs. This new H mark will be used on next-generation EVs of Honda, including Honda 0 Series models