Honda's New Plans For India Explained
Honda’s India comeback plans seem to have hit a speedbreaker. The carmaker recently announced a major restructuring in its global EV strategy. It has decided to shift its focus toward hybrids and has scrapped three EVs including the 0 SUV. This has reshaped its India launch lineup as the 0 SUV was originally slated for an India launch later this year. Here’s a closer look at Honda’s revised plans for the Indian market.
Honda’s, current portfolio in India consists of five models- second-generation Amaze, third-generation Amaze, City, City e:HEV (hybrid) and the Elevate. The carmaker plans to expand this aggressively in the coming months. Previously, Honda had announced that it would commence at least 10 launches by 2030. Now, some of these stand cancelled courtesy of the reworked EV strategy. Under the new plan, the carmaker will launch facelifts and all-new models in the coming months. These would include hybrid models as well.
2026 was originally supposed to be the year when we would see Honda’s first EV go on sale here. The restructuring has trashed these. We will talk about EV plans later in this article. Let’s now take a look at the hybrids that are known to be India-bound.
The company is expected to introduce a hybrid version of the Elevate SUV in the near future. It will use a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with improved electric motors and a lighter battery pack. This will reportedly be less complex and easier to maintain than the setup on the outgoing City hybrid. It will be less expensive as well, allowing the carmaker to price the model competitively. The mid-size SUV space will see the influx of more strong hybrid models this year.
Another mass-market launch expected from the Japanese giant this year is the City facelift. The fifth generation City was launched in 2020, and got a facelift in 2023. The sedan will get its second facelift this year. It will get significant design changes.
The carmaker is likely to bring the styling closer to that of global models like the Civic. Additionally, features like a 360-degree camera will also be added to the sedan. Powertrains will remain unchanged. It will continue to be powered by the familiar 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol (iVTEC) engine that makes 119hp and 145Nm.
The City e:HEV (Hybrid) will also get a corresponding mid-cycle update. The Hyundai Verna, one of its rivals, recently received a facelift. The Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia are also expected to get mid-life refreshes soon.
Another launch expected from the manufacturer this year is the all-new WR-V. It has already been spotted testing in India, hinting at an upcoming market launch. The India-spec WR-V will share its 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and platform with the Amaze. In the Indian market, the new WR-V will compete with the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and other B-segment SUVs.
Another part of Honda’s strategy involves bringing select global products to India as CBU imports. These include the Prelude coupe and the ZR-V SUV. The ZR-V will feature a 2.0-litre strong hybrid petrol engine paired with an e-CVT transmission. This powertrain is expected to have a combined output of around 180hp, and will come mated to an all wheel drive (AWD) system. Honda will not chase volumes with this product. The ZR-V will serve as an aspirational product- a halo SUV.
Another halo product expected to be out this year is the prelude coupe. The new-generation Prelude shares some of its key performance hardware with the Civic Type-R sold abroad. It will be a hybrid sports coupe powered by a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine mated to a hybrid system with a combined output of around 200 hp and 315 Nm. Mated to it will be Honda’s S+ Shift system.
Honda’s first EV for the Indian market was supposed to be the production version of the 0 SUV concept showcased at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
According to the latest information from the carmaker, this and two other models (Honda 0 Saloon, and Acura RSX) stand cancelled. Factors such as recent changes in global business environment and the company’s performance in it, the global decline in the demand for EVs, and the money needed for these projects have contributed to shaping this decision. The company will redirect funds into developing a low-cost hybrid system.
The second Honda EV for India was said to be the production form of Zero Alpha SUV. This project is reportedly still on track, but could face significant delays. The 2027 launch is likely to get pushed back.