Honda unveiled its innovative electric vehicle concepts, the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Featuring a striking, futuristic design, these models aim for a 2026 production launch in the U.S. The new Asimo OS enhances personalization and integrates Google services, while advanced safety features and level 3 autonomy promise to revolutionize driving. Additionally, Honda plans to incorporate Tesla’s charging technology and establish a robust charging network across the U.S. by 2030.
Unveiling Honda’s Electric Future at CES 2025
CES in Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a pivotal stage for significant announcements in the automotive sector. This trend continued for Honda in 2024, where they officially revealed two groundbreaking electric car concepts. As part of the 2025 showcase, Honda introduced prototypes of a sleek sedan and a stylish SUV, both set to approach production models anticipated for 2026 in the United States, followed by launches in additional markets. These innovative vehicles are named the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV.
A Bold and Futuristic Design
The most striking feature of these electric vehicles is undoubtedly their extraordinary design. The sedan flaunts a streamlined profile adorned with sharp lines, while the SUV mirrors this futuristic aesthetic. Such bold styling choices often come with risks; they can either captivate audiences or fall flat. Regardless of the outcome, this design is poised to leave a lasting impact on automotive history.
During the press event in Las Vegas, the Honda booth buzzed with journalists and industry analysts, all eager to witness the unveiling of these new models. The feedback from Honda executives was overwhelmingly positive. However, the true test will come from the general public once the production versions are released in a few months. Honda executives assure that the final designs will remain very close to what was presented.
Technical Highlights and Innovations
While design plays a crucial role, it’s important to remember that an electric vehicle’s performance hinges on its battery and motor technology, affecting consumption, range, and charging capabilities. However, Honda has chosen to remain tight-lipped about these aspects in their press release, opting instead to focus on their new operating system and advanced driving aids.
Introducing the Asimo OS, named after Honda’s famous robot from the early 2000s, this system aims to elevate Honda’s technological prowess. It will feature over-the-air updates (OTA) that have been standard among competitors for years, allowing for continuous improvements post-purchase.
Honda emphasizes personalization with this system, tailoring the experience for drivers and passengers alike. However, specific details about its functionality remain somewhat vague. The central processor (SoC), developed by Renesas specifically for Honda, will facilitate the creation of this homegrown OS, which will include integration of Google services (Android Automotive), similar to offerings from manufacturers like Renault and Porsche.
Safety and Charging Innovations
Honda is also highlighting its commitment to safety through advanced driving aids. The company was a pioneer in introducing level 3 autonomous driving with the Honda Legend and the Sensing Elite option in select regions of Japan. The goal with the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV is to implement highly sophisticated driving aids that could potentially eliminate road accidents by enabling the vehicle to autonomously avoid collisions.
To enhance their autonomous driving capabilities, Honda is collaborating with Helm.ai, aiming to teach cars to replicate and improve upon human driving behavior, with level 3 autonomy planned for the 0 series vehicles.
On the charging front, Honda has announced that its U.S. models will feature the NACS port developed by Tesla, providing access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Additionally, Honda is investing in building its own charging infrastructure, named IONNA, with the ambitious goal of establishing 30,000 charging stations across the U.S. by 2030 in partnership with eight other automotive manufacturers.
While many questions remain regarding the Honda 0 Saloon and 0 SUV—such as pricing, European availability, and detailed technical specifications—production is scheduled to kick off at the Ohio plant in 2026. The Honda 0 Saloon will be positioned as a luxury sedan with a four-seat layout, while the SUV variant will accommodate five passengers. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months!