When Are Honda’s First Electric Vehicles Expected in Australia?

Honda’s first electric vehicles to arrive in Australia could arrive here sooner than previously expected, with a timeline being promised within the next three years.

Reports from a roundtable meeting with Honda Australia boss Carolyn McMahon in March 2023 suggested the brand would not launch an electric vehicle locally for the next five years, making 2028 the year to start first model can be expected.

However, speaking at the launch of the new agreement last week, Ms McMahon set out to set the record straight by claiming the widely-used 2028 figure was wrong – but without giving a new date.

“I think this time last year we were talking about our medium-term plan, some put it at 2028 [for the first EV’s launch]“Ms McMahon told media in attendance.

“It will be sooner. I can’t tell you exactly at this point as we’re still fleshing it out, but in the background we’re working very hard on Honda’s move towards battery electric power [vehicles] into the Australian market.”

While Honda now offers a hybrid variant for every model in its local lineup, the company has never sold an electric vehicle in Australia – although gray market imports of the now-defunct Honda e city car were made through third-party companies.

Honda currently produces a limited range of electric vehicles in China, Europe, Thailand and, in collaboration with General Motors, Mexico.

The company recently pulled the plug on the Europe-focused e-hatchback but has started exporting its Chinese e:Ny1 to Europe. The small crossover is also built in Thailand.

The carmaker plans to bring a total of 30 electric vehicles onto the market worldwide by 2030, with additional models coming from Japan and other countries.

Honda also said it would invest 15 billion Canadian dollars (16.8 billion Australian dollars) with an as-yet-unnamed joint venture partner to build an electric vehicle assembly and battery plant in Ontario, Canada, for the North American market .

Asked whether any of these regions had been shortlisted or excluded as a source of electric vehicles heading to Australia, Ms McMahon said supply would depend on which production line could meet local compliance regulations.

“We will do everything we can to meet the compliance needs of this market and can meet the majority of the consumer needs of the market,” Ms. McMahon said.

“We are not ruling anything out at the moment, so unfortunately I cannot comment on any details today.”

Of the nine Japanese automakers operating in Australia, five sell electric vehicles: Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. Suzuki, Isuzu Ute, Mitsubishi and Honda do not currently offer battery electric vehicles to local buyers.

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