At a press conference held on Wednesday, Honda China stated that it planned to introduce 10 Honda-brand EV models in the next five years, and that all new models launched in China after 2030 will be electric.
In advanced markets including China, Honda will strive to increase the ratio of battery-electric vehicles and fuel cell EVs within overall unit sales to 40% by 2030, to 80% by 2035 and to 100% by 2040.
At this conference, Honda China officially released the brand-new pure EV brand “e:N” – “e” stands for energize and electric, while “N” represents new and next. Honda will make every effort to realize the brand transformation for electrification.
The “e: N” series products are purely electric cars centered on the Chinese team and built for the needs of Chinese consumers.
Honda shared three concept models and two production models that have already been developed and are scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2022.
These two production models include the e:NS1, produced as a joint venture of Dongfeng Honda, and the e:NP1 from GAC Honda. The former will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Wuhan Auto Show, while the latter will be launched at the Guangzhou Auto Show, which will open on November 19.
The other three concept cars include the e:N COUPE Concept, e:N SUV Concept and e:N GT Concept. Honda stated that its goal is to start sales of these three additional electric models within the next five years. In the future, the products under the e:N brand will be supplied to the global market.
In addition, a strategic partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a global maker of EV batteries, will be strengthened, Honda said. The two companies signed an agreement to cooperate on R&D in July last year when Honda bought a stake of around 1% in CATL.
