- Honda has discontinued the Prologue, leaving the brand without a production EV in the US.
- The company says that the demand for EV has slowed down in the last 18 months.
- Honda is doubling down on hybrids, investing nearly $28 billion to launch 15 new hybrid models by 2030.
The writing was on the wall, but now it’s official: the Honda Prologue is dead. The Japanese automaker is putting the brakes on its final production electric vehicle as it shifts its focus back to hybrids.
Honda confirmed this decision carbSaying that “customer demand for EV models has changed significantly over the last 18 months.” The Prologue now joins its GM-based brother, the Acura ZDX, which was discontinued last year. We have contacted Honda for an official statement.
With the introduction of the Prologue dead, Honda Motor’s US lineup no longer includes a single electric vehicle. The ZDX exits the lineup in 2025, and Honda has canceled several other EV projects before reaching production.
In March, Acura confirmed that the electric RSX crossover would no longer be moving forward. Honda’s futuristic 0 SUV and 0 sedan concepts – which were shown in near-production form in Tokyo – have also been halted before reaching dealerships.
Double down on Honda hybrids
Instead, Honda is betting on hybrids and more efficient combustion engines as EV demand in the US declines, especially after the federal $7,500 EV tax credit expires.
In May, the company unveiled two new hybrid prototypes that are expected to go on sale within the next two years. Honda plans to launch 15 models powered by its next-generation hybrid system by March 2030.
The new hybrid powertrain is expected to improve fuel efficiency by about 10 percent compared to the existing system when introduced in 2023. To support that strategy, Honda will invest ¥4.4 trillion — about $28 billion at current exchange rates — to bring those hybrid models to market over the next several years.
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Motor1’s Opinion: With Honda getting back into hybrids, it’s no surprise that the Prologue is gone. Unfortunately, this leaves Honda without an EV in the US.
