
Honda cuts EV development budget by 30 per cent
According to The Nikkei, Honda has reduced its spending on EV models due by 2030 from ¥10 trillion (A$100 billion) to ¥7 trillion (A$70 billion).
This is a reaction to the slower-than-expected rate of growth of EV adoption in many markets across the world, as well as the scrapping of the US$7500 federal tax rebate for EVs passed as part of US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
One of the casualties from the budget cut is a three-row SUV aim primarily at the North American market, and initially envisaged as a competitor to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
Other manufacturers have changed their large EV SUV plans, with Ford cancelling its large electric crossover, and Toyota USA delaying a similar model from 2026 to 2028. Nissan has also delayed its US-focussed Xterra electric SUV, and its Infiniti sibling by a few years.
Despite trimming the EV budget by a third, there are still a number of EVs on Honda's horizon. These include the radically-styled 0 SUV and 0 Saloon (above) unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Honda is also jointly developing the Afeela 1 electric sedan with Sony. With a starting price just below US$90,000 (A$138,000), the Afeela 1 will be a competitor to the Lucid Air, and will likely sell in small numbers.
There's a city-friendly hatchback based on the Super EV Concept that will debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Around the size of a kei car, the Super EV looks to be a successor of sorts to the retro E hatch.
Earlier this month Honda officially ditched its goal of EVs accounting for 30 per cent of global sales by 2030, and instead wants to the hybrid wave. To that end the automaker has committed to launch 13 new hybrid models by 2027, including the upcoming Civic-based Prelude coupe.
By 2030, Honda expects to sell around 2.2 million hybrid models every year. For reference, the automaker sold 3.7 million cars of all stripes across the world last year.
For China Honda has developed its own dedicated EV platform that's currently used for a pair of SUVs, and the rather attractive Ye GT fastback (above). These are sold in addition to a clutch of HR-V based electric models.
Outside of China, though, Honda's EV offerings are slim. There are no Honda EVs for sale in Australia, and in Europe just one model is available: the HR-V-based e:Ny1. While in the States the company offers the GM-built and engineered Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX.
MORE: Everything Honda
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Honda is the latest automaker to scale back its electric vehicle plans, with some of the money saved going to hybrid drivetrain development instead.
According to The Nikkei, Honda has reduced its spending on EV models due by 2030 from ¥10 trillion (A$100 billion) to ¥7 trillion (A$70 billion).
This is a reaction to the slower-than-expected rate of growth of EV adoption in many markets across the world, as well as the scrapping of the US$7500 federal tax rebate for EVs passed as part of US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
One of the casualties from the budget cut is a three-row SUV aim primarily at the North American market, and initially envisaged as a competitor to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
Other manufacturers have changed their large EV SUV plans, with Ford cancelling its large electric crossover, and Toyota USA delaying a similar model from 2026 to 2028. Nissan has also delayed its US-focussed Xterra electric SUV, and its Infiniti sibling by a few years.
Despite trimming the EV budget by a third, there are still a number of EVs on Honda's horizon. These include the radically-styled 0 SUV and 0 Saloon (above) unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Honda is also jointly developing the Afeela 1 electric sedan with Sony. With a starting price just below US$90,000 (A$138,000), the Afeela 1 will be a competitor to the Lucid Air, and will likely sell in small numbers.
There's a city-friendly hatchback based on the Super EV Concept that will debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Around the size of a kei car, the Super EV looks to be a successor of sorts to the retro E hatch.
Earlier this month Honda officially ditched its goal of EVs accounting for 30 per cent of global sales by 2030, and instead wants to the hybrid wave. To that end the automaker has committed to launch 13 new hybrid models by 2027, including the upcoming Civic-based Prelude coupe.
By 2030, Honda expects to sell around 2.2 million hybrid models every year. For reference, the automaker sold 3.7 million cars of all stripes across the world last year.
For China Honda has developed its own dedicated EV platform that's currently used for a pair of SUVs, and the rather attractive Ye GT fastback (above). These are sold in addition to a clutch of HR-V based electric models.
Outside of China, though, Honda's EV offerings are slim. There are no Honda EVs for sale in Australia, and in Europe just one model is available: the HR-V-based e:Ny1. While in the States the company offers the GM-built and engineered Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX.
MORE: Everything Honda
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Honda is the latest automaker to scale back its electric vehicle plans, with some of the money saved going to hybrid drivetrain development instead.
According to The Nikkei, Honda has reduced its spending on EV models due by 2030 from ¥10 trillion (A$100 billion) to ¥7 trillion (A$70 billion).
This is a reaction to the slower-than-expected rate of growth of EV adoption in many markets across the world, as well as the scrapping of the US$7500 federal tax rebate for EVs passed as part of US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
One of the casualties from the budget cut is a three-row SUV aim primarily at the North American market, and initially envisaged as a competitor to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
Other manufacturers have changed their large EV SUV plans, with Ford cancelling its large electric crossover, and Toyota USA delaying a similar model from 2026 to 2028. Nissan has also delayed its US-focussed Xterra electric SUV, and its Infiniti sibling by a few years.
Despite trimming the EV budget by a third, there are still a number of EVs on Honda's horizon. These include the radically-styled 0 SUV and 0 Saloon (above) unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Honda is also jointly developing the Afeela 1 electric sedan with Sony. With a starting price just below US$90,000 (A$138,000), the Afeela 1 will be a competitor to the Lucid Air, and will likely sell in small numbers.
There's a city-friendly hatchback based on the Super EV Concept that will debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Around the size of a kei car, the Super EV looks to be a successor of sorts to the retro E hatch.
Earlier this month Honda officially ditched its goal of EVs accounting for 30 per cent of global sales by 2030, and instead wants to the hybrid wave. To that end the automaker has committed to launch 13 new hybrid models by 2027, including the upcoming Civic-based Prelude coupe.
By 2030, Honda expects to sell around 2.2 million hybrid models every year. For reference, the automaker sold 3.7 million cars of all stripes across the world last year.
For China Honda has developed its own dedicated EV platform that's currently used for a pair of SUVs, and the rather attractive Ye GT fastback (above). These are sold in addition to a clutch of HR-V based electric models.
Outside of China, though, Honda's EV offerings are slim. There are no Honda EVs for sale in Australia, and in Europe just one model is available: the HR-V-based e:Ny1. While in the States the company offers the GM-built and engineered Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX.
MORE: Everything Honda
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Honda is the latest automaker to scale back its electric vehicle plans, with some of the money saved going to hybrid drivetrain development instead.
According to The Nikkei, Honda has reduced its spending on EV models due by 2030 from ¥10 trillion (A$100 billion) to ¥7 trillion (A$70 billion).
This is a reaction to the slower-than-expected rate of growth of EV adoption in many markets across the world, as well as the scrapping of the US$7500 federal tax rebate for EVs passed as part of US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
One of the casualties from the budget cut is a three-row SUV aim primarily at the North American market, and initially envisaged as a competitor to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
Other manufacturers have changed their large EV SUV plans, with Ford cancelling its large electric crossover, and Toyota USA delaying a similar model from 2026 to 2028. Nissan has also delayed its US-focussed Xterra electric SUV, and its Infiniti sibling by a few years.
Despite trimming the EV budget by a third, there are still a number of EVs on Honda's horizon. These include the radically-styled 0 SUV and 0 Saloon (above) unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Honda is also jointly developing the Afeela 1 electric sedan with Sony. With a starting price just below US$90,000 (A$138,000), the Afeela 1 will be a competitor to the Lucid Air, and will likely sell in small numbers.
There's a city-friendly hatchback based on the Super EV Concept that will debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Around the size of a kei car, the Super EV looks to be a successor of sorts to the retro E hatch.
Earlier this month Honda officially ditched its goal of EVs accounting for 30 per cent of global sales by 2030, and instead wants to the hybrid wave. To that end the automaker has committed to launch 13 new hybrid models by 2027, including the upcoming Civic-based Prelude coupe.
By 2030, Honda expects to sell around 2.2 million hybrid models every year. For reference, the automaker sold 3.7 million cars of all stripes across the world last year.
For China Honda has developed its own dedicated EV platform that's currently used for a pair of SUVs, and the rather attractive Ye GT fastback (above). These are sold in addition to a clutch of HR-V based electric models.
Outside of China, though, Honda's EV offerings are slim. There are no Honda EVs for sale in Australia, and in Europe just one model is available: the HR-V-based e:Ny1. While in the States the company offers the GM-built and engineered Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX.
MORE: Everything Honda
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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The infotainment system runs on the Android Automotive operating system with built-in Google Maps for navigation and Google Assistant voice recognition, and has access to the Google Play app store. Safety items include blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, safe exit monitoring, and drowsiness alerts. The Dacia Bigster (above) was launched at the end of 2024. Closely related to the third-generation Dacia Duster, both cars use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B LS platform. While the Duster has been sold as a Renault in many global markets since the first generation, it has only just landed in Australia No word yet on whether the Boreal will be sold in Australia, but so far it doesn't look like the car will be produced in right-hand drive. MORE: Everything Renault Content originally sourced from: The Dacia Bigster — the budget brand's largest SUV to date — has been given a glow up and transformed into the Renault Boreal for sale in Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Mediterranean basin. With Dacia largely confined to Europe, Renault has rebadged many models from its Romanian marque for sale in other markets, primarily Africa and Latin America. Typically this involves swapping Dacia badges for Renault ones, and maybe tweaking the grille. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Boreal goes a step further by having completely distinct exterior panels, except for maybe the roof. Up front, the simple lines of the Bigster have given way for a split headlight treatment integrated into an egg-crate grille. Along the sides the Boreal has smoother surfacing, and a vast section of chiselled faux brushed metal trim on the D-pillar. At the back, the Boreal ditches the Bigster's awkward arrowhead tail-lights for a set that wouldn't look out of place on a Skoda. Despite these changes, the Boreal is clearly very closely related to Bigster with the two sharing the same overall shape, as well as door apertures, and both feature hidden rear door handles. The Boreal is 4556mm long, 1841mm wide, 1650mm tall, and rides on a 2702mm wheelbase. Boot space with a rear seats up is rated at 522 litres. The differences continue on the inside, with the Bigster having its own unique dashboard design where the 10.0-inch instrumentation screen flows into the 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the Bigster's interior makes a virtue of its assortment of hard, but durable plastic, the Boreal's dash has soft-touch material. The Renault also features more realistic-looking faux metal elements, leather-look seats with contrast stitching, and more generously padded armrests, at least up front. The Boreal will be made in Brazil for Latin American markets from late 2025, and in Turkey for the Middle East and Mediterranean basin some time in 2026. While the Bigster is available with a choice of mild-hybrid and hybrid drivetrains, as well as the option of all-wheel drive and a manual transmission, the Boreal will be available exclusively with a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched with six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. For Boreals made in Turkey the engine develops 103kW and 240Nm, while Brazil-made models are available in petrol or FlexFuel derivatives, the latter of which can use almost any mixture of petrol and alcohol. Brazilian petrol models make 116kW, and FlexFuel variants develop 122kW and 270Nm. Available features include dual-zone climate control, a refrigerated centre bin, and a Harmon Kardon sound system. The infotainment system runs on the Android Automotive operating system with built-in Google Maps for navigation and Google Assistant voice recognition, and has access to the Google Play app store. Safety items include blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, safe exit monitoring, and drowsiness alerts. The Dacia Bigster (above) was launched at the end of 2024. Closely related to the third-generation Dacia Duster, both cars use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B LS platform. While the Duster has been sold as a Renault in many global markets since the first generation, it has only just landed in Australia No word yet on whether the Boreal will be sold in Australia, but so far it doesn't look like the car will be produced in right-hand drive. MORE: Everything Renault Content originally sourced from: The Dacia Bigster — the budget brand's largest SUV to date — has been given a glow up and transformed into the Renault Boreal for sale in Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Mediterranean basin. With Dacia largely confined to Europe, Renault has rebadged many models from its Romanian marque for sale in other markets, primarily Africa and Latin America. Typically this involves swapping Dacia badges for Renault ones, and maybe tweaking the grille. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Boreal goes a step further by having completely distinct exterior panels, except for maybe the roof. Up front, the simple lines of the Bigster have given way for a split headlight treatment integrated into an egg-crate grille. Along the sides the Boreal has smoother surfacing, and a vast section of chiselled faux brushed metal trim on the D-pillar. At the back, the Boreal ditches the Bigster's awkward arrowhead tail-lights for a set that wouldn't look out of place on a Skoda. Despite these changes, the Boreal is clearly very closely related to Bigster with the two sharing the same overall shape, as well as door apertures, and both feature hidden rear door handles. The Boreal is 4556mm long, 1841mm wide, 1650mm tall, and rides on a 2702mm wheelbase. Boot space with a rear seats up is rated at 522 litres. The differences continue on the inside, with the Bigster having its own unique dashboard design where the 10.0-inch instrumentation screen flows into the 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the Bigster's interior makes a virtue of its assortment of hard, but durable plastic, the Boreal's dash has soft-touch material. The Renault also features more realistic-looking faux metal elements, leather-look seats with contrast stitching, and more generously padded armrests, at least up front. The Boreal will be made in Brazil for Latin American markets from late 2025, and in Turkey for the Middle East and Mediterranean basin some time in 2026. While the Bigster is available with a choice of mild-hybrid and hybrid drivetrains, as well as the option of all-wheel drive and a manual transmission, the Boreal will be available exclusively with a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched with six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. For Boreals made in Turkey the engine develops 103kW and 240Nm, while Brazil-made models are available in petrol or FlexFuel derivatives, the latter of which can use almost any mixture of petrol and alcohol. Brazilian petrol models make 116kW, and FlexFuel variants develop 122kW and 270Nm. Available features include dual-zone climate control, a refrigerated centre bin, and a Harmon Kardon sound system. The infotainment system runs on the Android Automotive operating system with built-in Google Maps for navigation and Google Assistant voice recognition, and has access to the Google Play app store. Safety items include blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, safe exit monitoring, and drowsiness alerts. The Dacia Bigster (above) was launched at the end of 2024. Closely related to the third-generation Dacia Duster, both cars use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B LS platform. While the Duster has been sold as a Renault in many global markets since the first generation, it has only just landed in Australia No word yet on whether the Boreal will be sold in Australia, but so far it doesn't look like the car will be produced in right-hand drive. MORE: Everything Renault Content originally sourced from: The Dacia Bigster — the budget brand's largest SUV to date — has been given a glow up and transformed into the Renault Boreal for sale in Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Mediterranean basin. With Dacia largely confined to Europe, Renault has rebadged many models from its Romanian marque for sale in other markets, primarily Africa and Latin America. Typically this involves swapping Dacia badges for Renault ones, and maybe tweaking the grille. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Boreal goes a step further by having completely distinct exterior panels, except for maybe the roof. Up front, the simple lines of the Bigster have given way for a split headlight treatment integrated into an egg-crate grille. Along the sides the Boreal has smoother surfacing, and a vast section of chiselled faux brushed metal trim on the D-pillar. At the back, the Boreal ditches the Bigster's awkward arrowhead tail-lights for a set that wouldn't look out of place on a Skoda. Despite these changes, the Boreal is clearly very closely related to Bigster with the two sharing the same overall shape, as well as door apertures, and both feature hidden rear door handles. The Boreal is 4556mm long, 1841mm wide, 1650mm tall, and rides on a 2702mm wheelbase. Boot space with a rear seats up is rated at 522 litres. The differences continue on the inside, with the Bigster having its own unique dashboard design where the 10.0-inch instrumentation screen flows into the 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the Bigster's interior makes a virtue of its assortment of hard, but durable plastic, the Boreal's dash has soft-touch material. The Renault also features more realistic-looking faux metal elements, leather-look seats with contrast stitching, and more generously padded armrests, at least up front. The Boreal will be made in Brazil for Latin American markets from late 2025, and in Turkey for the Middle East and Mediterranean basin some time in 2026. While the Bigster is available with a choice of mild-hybrid and hybrid drivetrains, as well as the option of all-wheel drive and a manual transmission, the Boreal will be available exclusively with a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched with six-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. For Boreals made in Turkey the engine develops 103kW and 240Nm, while Brazil-made models are available in petrol or FlexFuel derivatives, the latter of which can use almost any mixture of petrol and alcohol. Brazilian petrol models make 116kW, and FlexFuel variants develop 122kW and 270Nm. Available features include dual-zone climate control, a refrigerated centre bin, and a Harmon Kardon sound system. The infotainment system runs on the Android Automotive operating system with built-in Google Maps for navigation and Google Assistant voice recognition, and has access to the Google Play app store. Safety items include blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, safe exit monitoring, and drowsiness alerts. The Dacia Bigster (above) was launched at the end of 2024. Closely related to the third-generation Dacia Duster, both cars use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B LS platform. While the Duster has been sold as a Renault in many global markets since the first generation, it has only just landed in Australia No word yet on whether the Boreal will be sold in Australia, but so far it doesn't look like the car will be produced in right-hand drive. MORE: Everything Renault Content originally sourced from: