Currently reading: Honda defends slow electric car roll-out

Honda Motor Europe president Katsuhisa Okuda cites infrastructural limitations as a reason for slow pace

Honda is trailing the majority of mainstream manufacturers in Europe with the launch of its first volume-oriented electric car, the e:Ny1, but the firm’s European president has defended the slow EV roll-out, citing the real-world utility limitations of such cars.

Speaking exclusively to Autocar at the reveal of the e:Ny1, new CR-V and ZR-V, Honda Motor Europe president Katsuhisa Okuda said: “The pace of our EV development is just the same as infrastructure development, in terms of public charging availability.”

The Japanese marque has long been a front-runner in the hybrid market, but its first production EV, the E supermini, wasn't a volume contender and its second won't arrive in dealerships for several months. However, Okuda estimates that this gradual electrification process will ultimately bear fruit.

“In the end,” he said, “we believe that in 2040 or 2050, the infrastructure will be well developed and then our many customers can enjoy EVs. Until then, our plug-in hybrid is a good option for commuting and for longer weekend drives. It’s very realistic and practical.”

The new CR-V brings Honda’s first European PHEV option and signals Honda’s intent to match rival Toyota in continuing to offer a range of powertrain solutions in the name of accessibility and broadened appeal.

“What we wanted to do is to offer choices to the customers. This is why we're working on a multi-pathway approach,” said Okuda.

He stopped short, however, of confirming whether other Honda models could get a PHEV option, saying only that “it depends on what the customer needs in the future”.

Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

Join the debate

Comments
11
Add a comment…
CanAmSteve 16 May 2023

"It depends on what the customer needs in the future”. He may as well admit Honda will be playing catch-up forever. Yes Honda has had some good mild hybrids - but only on a few models. Ignoring PHEVs is an admission of failure. The Honda-e was a joke. At least they finally managed a CR-V hybrid - but can they produce and sell it? And what about the larger US models? Radio silence

Davey 16 May 2023
Quote: "“In the end,” he said, “we believe that in 2040 or 2050, the infrastructure will be well developed and then our many customers can enjoy EVs."
‐‐‐‐----------
Doesn't give me confidence. In the UK, all new cars sold after 2030 will be ZEV, and same in many other places by 2035.

If he thinks they can survive until 2050 on sales of just ICE cars, it's going to be bye-bye Honda! And I don't think he does think that. A case of "Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?"

Alongside Toyota, Honda have been far too complacent for the last decade. Thought they had a lot of time, and talking about hydrogen would see them through. Then battery prices fell like a stone, with charging etc performance rising, and suddenly hydrogen just looked like a fools choice for cars. And they must have suddenly seen to their horror that BEV sales were real and taking custom away.

Good news may be they have finally woken up, and it's now a question of bluff it out whilst frantically developing behind the scenes.

scrap 16 May 2023

It's electric so every control is on massive touch screen isn't it?

After designing a really good cabin / control interface for the Civic it's a shame Honda now lacks the courage of its convictions. And when will the wider industry acknowledge that operating a phone and operating a car are very different things?

Also this lacks any of the charm of the Honda e... another real shame.