The Honda Prologue Is 2024’s Shock EV Success Story

• Honda’s Prologue EV is new for 2024 and doing properly in gross sales already.
• It was shut in gross sales to the Ford Mustang Mach-E in Q3 and even handed the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in the identical interval. 
• Will Honda’s future EV technique have the ability to capitalize on the Prologue’s success?

It’s a must to rise up fairly early within the morning to outfox the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is spent a couple of years now as certainly one of America’s top-selling electrical autos that do not come from Tesla, and it took the highest non-Tesla crown this 12 months after the Chevrolet Bolt bowed out of the market. However now, and maybe unexpectedly, an unlikely competitor is gaining quick on the Mach-E: the Honda Prologue.

The latest evaluation of third-quarter U.S. electrical car gross sales knowledge from Cox Automotive has some very attention-grabbing development traces. One factor that stood out to us specifically was simply how properly the Prologue is doing in its first 12 months in the marketplace and as manufacturing actually begins to ramp up.

In line with the information, the Prologue grew to become America’s fifth best-selling EV in Q3, behind, so as, the Tesla Mannequin Y, Mannequin 3, Cybertruck and Mustang Mach-E. So for non-Tesla EV gross sales, which means the Prologue takes the silver medal. And with 12,644 Prologue gross sales in Q3, it was solely off the Mach-E’s numbers by 748 models. 

Granted, the Mach-E will most likely maintain the non-Tesla chief standing by the 12 months’s finish as a result of it is simply been on sale in quantity for for much longer. However the truth that the Prologue is catching up so rapidly to a success just like the Mach-E says quite a bit about how a lot individuals need good electrical Hondas. 

I would additionally add that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 isn’t any gross sales slouch both, and, along with being one of many best-spec’d EVs round, appeared prefer it may presumably take the non-Tesla gross sales chief place this 12 months. However now it has powerful competitors too. 

This can be a good final result for Honda’s first trendy EV, however maybe it is not too shocking. American automotive patrons nonetheless are inclined to equate Honda and Toyota with being “inexperienced” automotive firms since each had been such pioneers within the hybrid enviornment (and nonetheless do very properly sales-wise with electrified fashions.) This summer time, we featured a survey that indicated Honda and Toyota had been thought of EV leaders within the U.S., regardless of each automakers being really reluctant to embrace full electrification.

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Jeff Perez / Motor1

However clearly, individuals need good EVs from these manufacturers; on the months when good offers and reductions may very well be discovered, Toyota’s bZ4X confirmed large development. It is a clientele that wishes reliable and dependable expertise and might be extra inclined to “inexperienced” than followers of different automotive manufacturers. 

And the specs on the Prologue are fairly reputable. With front- or dual-motor all-wheel-drive, as much as 296 miles of vary from its 85 kWh battery and a design that does not scream “I am an electrical spaceship,” Honda’s EV crossover hits a whole lot of candy spots for mainstream success. Honda is even throwing in a house EV charger and assist with some set up prices on the Prologue, making it type of a turnkey alternative for individuals going electrical for the primary time. 

Positive, beneath it really makes use of Common Motors’ EV platform and batteries, however I am unsure many purchasers know and even care. (And GM’s Ultium platform is powerful by itself, with electrical gross sales from the American automaker displaying critical good points too.) 

Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay, in contrast to GM’s EVs. No marvel it is doing properly. 

Honda

The query now’s what Honda’s electrical future will appear to be. It is cleat that whereas the GM-based Prologue is common, it is also type of a stopgap till Honda can get its in-house EV operations up and working. That features big battery and automotive manufacturing hubs in Ohio and Canada and a novel strategy to EVs that goals to emphasise lighter weight, inside area and higher tech. However we’ve questions on that strategy too, like whether or not these next-generation Honda EVs will look as on the market because the 0 Collection Ideas that debuted at CES this 12 months, and what it means in the event that they launch with a dearer flagship sedan.

Hopefully, Honda will have the ability to ship one thing that may capitalize on the Prologue’s success. And as attention-grabbing because the 0 Collection fashions may very well be, a moderately-priced, good-range household crossover may be the confirmed play as an alternative. 

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