The Honda Prologue Is 2024’s Shock EV Success Story

• Honda’s Prologue EV is new for 2024 and doing nicely 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 be capable to capitalize on the Prologue’s success?

You must stand up fairly early within the morning to outfox the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is spent a number of years now as considered one of America’s top-selling electrical automobiles 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 current evaluation of third-quarter U.S. electrical automobile gross sales knowledge from Cox Automotive has some very attention-grabbing development traces. One factor that stood out to us specifically was simply how nicely the Prologue is doing in its first 12 months available on the market and as manufacturing actually begins to ramp up.

In keeping 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, meaning 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 items. 

Granted, the Mach-E will in all probability preserve 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 lots about how a lot individuals need good electrical Hondas. 

I might 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 might probably take the non-Tesla gross sales chief place this 12 months. However now it has powerful competitors too. 

It is a good final result for Honda’s first trendy EV, however maybe it is not too shocking. American automobile patrons nonetheless are inclined to equate Honda and Toyota with being “inexperienced” automobile corporations since each have been such pioneers within the hybrid area (and nonetheless do very nicely sales-wise with electrified fashions.) This summer time, we featured a survey that indicated Honda and Toyota have 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 desires reliable and dependable expertise and might be extra inclined to “inexperienced” than followers of different automobile manufacturers. 

And the specs on the Prologue are fairly professional. 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 lots 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 form of a turnkey alternative for individuals going electrical for the primary time. 

Positive, beneath it really makes use of Normal Motors’ EV platform and batteries, however I am unsure many shoppers know and even care. (And GM’s Ultium platform is robust by itself, with electrical gross sales from the American automaker exhibiting critical positive aspects too.) 

Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay, not like GM’s EVs. No surprise it is doing nicely. 

Honda

The query now’s what Honda’s electrical future will seem like. It is cleat that whereas the GM-based Prologue is fashionable, it is also form of a stopgap till Honda can get its in-house EV operations up and operating. That features big battery and automobile manufacturing hubs in Ohio and Canada and a novel method to EVs that goals to emphasise lighter weight, inside house and higher tech. However now we have questions on that method 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.

With a bit of luck, Honda will be capable 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 could be the confirmed play as a substitute. 

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