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 have the ability to capitalize on the Prologue’s success?

It’s a must to stand up fairly early within the morning to outfox the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is spent a number of years now as one in all America’s top-selling electrical autos that do not come from Tesla, and it took the highest non-Tesla crown this yr 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 fascinating development strains. One factor that stood out to us specifically was simply how nicely the Prologue is doing in its first yr available on the market and as manufacturing actually begins to ramp up.

In accordance 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 maintain the non-Tesla chief standing by the yr’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 shortly to successful just like the Mach-E says so much about how a lot folks 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 yr. However now it has robust competitors too. 

It is a good final result for Honda’s first trendy EV, however maybe it is not too stunning. American automotive patrons nonetheless are likely to equate Honda and Toyota with being “inexperienced” automotive corporations since each had been such pioneers within the hybrid area (and nonetheless do very nicely sales-wise with electrified fashions.) This summer season, we featured a survey that indicated Honda and Toyota had been thought-about EV leaders within the U.S., regardless of each automakers being truly reluctant to embrace full electrification.

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Jeff Perez / Motor1

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

And the specs on the Prologue are fairly reliable. 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 type of a turnkey selection for folks going electrical for the primary time. 

Positive, beneath it truly 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 powerful by itself, with electrical gross sales from the American automaker exhibiting severe beneficial properties too.) 

Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay, in contrast to 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 standard, it is also type of a stopgap till Honda can get its in-house EV operations up and working. That features enormous battery and automotive manufacturing hubs in Ohio and Canada and a novel method to EVs that goals to emphasise lighter weight, inside area and higher tech. However we’ve 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 yr, and what it means in the event that they launch with a dearer flagship sedan.

Optimistically, Honda will have the ability to ship one thing that may capitalize on the Prologue’s success. And as fascinating 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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