We want our people back! Honda Australia boss says going EV in 2026 will return fans to the brand
As it rebuilds its Australian presence following a fundamental retailing restructure Honda has officially committed to having its first EV on-sale here before the end of 2026.
The Japanese brand says the expansion into EVs will help it reunite with fans who have been forced to turn elsewhere in search of a zero emissions vehicle
“We don’t like losing customers or not being able to provide customers with what they would like,” Honda Australia CEO Jay Joseph told EV Central in a recent interview.
“So number one, let’s stem that loss.”
READ MORE: 2026 Honda Prelude returning to Australia: After 24 years hybrid coupe is back to terrorise the Toyota GR86
READ MORE: Is this Japan’s cheapest EV yet? Honda Super EV set to fight BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora
READ MORE: CES 2025: Wild 0 Series SUV and 0 Saloon prove Honda is serious about daring to be different in its bid to challenge Tesla and Chinese EV makers
Honda Australia hasn’t identified what its first EV will be, apart from making clear it won’t be a member of the radical new 0 Series range.
0 Series will be in the second wave of EVs on-sale in Australia in 2027 and is likely to be led by the near-production SUV that’s already been previewed (pictured top).
As a result there has been plenty of speculation about just what the first Australia-bound EV from Honda could be.
There is a chance we’ll get a clearer indication of Honda’s plan at what’s now known as the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo – previously it was the Tokyo Motor Show – at the end of October.
“This year the Japan Mobility Show is a chance for us to show not just the breadth of what we’re working on for technology but also some specific directions,” Joseph said.
“We’ve already said that we’ll show the 0 Series but we’ll also show some other models that will be offered before that.”
Honda has listed its Tokyo automotive world premieres as a new Honda 0 Series SUV prototype and compact EV prototype.
With the 0 Series already scheduled for arrival no sooner than 2027, there is a chance the Compact EV could be the model coming to Australia in 2026.
Of course, car companies often hold back surprises to drop at shows for maximum publicity, so it could also be something else altogether.
Joseph was appropriately cryptic when quizzed.
“The Japan Mobility Show is a chance for us to show our future direction near term and longer term and we’re excited to show what’s coming to market,” he offered
The Compact EV prototype is described by Honda in its press material as being developed in pursuit of the “fun of driving” and the “joy of driving”.
Honda says global testing of this car is already underway, which suggests it could be inspired by the funky Honda Super EV Concept that debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year.
Joseph listed a number of reasons why the sale of EVs in Australia had finally got a green light at Honda.
In the big picture, they included contributing to Honda’s global 2050 zero emissions and corporate responsibility targets.
At an Australian level, EVs will help Honda meet NVES CO2 reduction targets introduced in July that all brands have to negotiate.
But for Honda Australia specifically, Joseph says the arrival of EVs will help foster renewed relations with some brand followers and help with sales.
“Honda globally and certainly here in Australia has a very loyal customer base and some of our customers because we haven’t offered an EV and they wanted one have had to stray from Honda,” said Joseph.
“We don’t need to lose those customers, so let’s offer them what they want.”
Honda has lost a significant amount of annual sales in Australia through its switch from traditional dealer to agency sales, a process complicated and exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
Honda’s new commitment to EVs will kick off the same year it expands hybrid choice in its popular CR-V and ZR-V SUV line-ups. It will also introduce the reborn Prelude sports car as a petrol-electric hybrid in 2026.
