New Electric Hondas Confirmed for Production
Honda is one of the pioneers of hybrid technology in the U.S., but has been relatively slow to the full-electric party. All that changed in 2024 with the introduction of the Prologue, a midsize electric SUV that quickly became one of the top-selling electric vehicles in the U.S.
The Prologue, which shares many components and technology with General Motors, is only the first step of Honda’s journey to full electrification, however. And at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2025, Honda proudly showed off its next step: a brand-new all-electric platform that will underpin both a new SUV and sedan, called the 0 Series. Engineered completely in-house, the new 0 Series models will go on sale in North America in 2026, before being rolled out globally.
Called the 0 Saloon (which is European and Japanese for “sedan”) and 0 SUV, the two new Honda models have cutting-edge styling, an intelligent engineering approach, a new software platform, and intriguing technology. Let’s take a look at what makes them special.
2026 Honda Electric SUV
A mid-size electric SUV will be the first model to enter production on the all-new 0 Series platform, with its new, dedicated EV architecture. Sharing some of its design elements with the Space Hub concept vehicle shown a year ago at CES, the 0 SUV has an exceptionally spacious cabin with outstanding flexibility and visibility.
Honda says its approach to electric vehicles, which are typically large and heavy, is different; the company calls it “thin, light, and wise.” It’s been designed from the inside out, with a minimalistic feel, expansive screens with highly customizable digital content, and most importantly, steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire controls that maximize the amount of space within the car for people and cargo. Instead of small, narrow windows, the glass areas are expansive, furthering the impression of space.
While Honda has yet to share final specifications of the 0 SUV (expect a new name by the time it goes on sale in 2026), the company does say that by-wire control of steering, suspension, and brakes should result in outstanding handling. Electronic control of these systems should also help the 0 SUV’s active safety systems react faster and with more subtlety than in conventional vehicles.
2026 Honda Electric Sedan
The Honda 0 Saloon, or sedan, is the second vehicle that Honda showed at CES. It’s a really striking design, looking kind of like a four-door Lamborghini sports car beamed in from the future. Like the 0 SUV, it has a spacious interior with a huge glass area, but it’s also extremely low, wide, and angular. Honda says that it really is a preview of what will be available in American dealers starting in 2026.
As the flagship model of the 0 Series, the new electric sedan’s wedge-shaped styling cloaks a surprisingly spacious and luxurious interior, far more spacious than its compact exterior dimensions would suggest. It will also be packed with what Honda says are “highly reliable” automated driving technologies, as well as an unprecedented level of digital customization available through its all-new operating system which will allow drivers and passengers to create a highly personal user experience.
Honda 0 Series: New Vehicle Operating System
As befitting its introduction at a consumer electronics show, the 0 Series Hondas also feature an all-new vehicle operating system, which Honda is calling Asimo OS, after its beloved walking robot.
Also developed in-house by Honda, Asimo OS integrates management of all electronic control units in the car, from the driver assistance systems to infotainment and everything in between. The platform is able to update itself over the air, to add new functions and services that drivers and passengers want.
Level 3 autonomous driving will be part of the package that Asimo OS offers. Honda was actually the world’s first automaker to put Level 3 automated driving tech into practical use in Japan, which allowed drivers "eyes-off driving" in some limited areas. Honda says its Level 3 autonomous tech not only will reduce the number of collisions on the road, but eliminate collisions that a “human driver could have avoided.” The long-term goal is zero traffic fatalities in the future.
Production Honda 0 Series cars will enable the expansion of the range of driving conditions where driver assistance and Level 3 automated driving will be available, starting with eyes-off technology in traffic congestion on highways, then progressing as the tech improves. Human occupants can therefore perform a “second task” while en route to their destination, such as watching a movie or joining a meeting.
New Honda EVs: Made in the USA
Production models of the Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 Sedan will be made in America, at Honda’s EV Hub in Ohio. The SUV will be first to market, coming in the first half of 2026, while the four-door sedan will followi in late 2026, before being offered globally.
