On the 16th, Honda Motor announced that it will launch its new electric vehicle (EV), the "Insight," on the 17th. With a cruising range of 535 kilometers on a full charge—the longest of any Honda EV to date—the company aims to expand its lineup by re-importing China-manufactured EVs for sale in Japan.
The vehicle is priced at 5.5 million yen. However, with the application of 1.3 million yen in government EV subsidies, the effective purchase price drops to 4.2 million yen. Sales will be limited to 3,000 units. Takehiro Oda, the product planning manager, stated, "We set the sales volume based on our target customer base and Honda’s current market share."
This marks the first time a Japanese automaker has imported and sold an EV manufactured in China. The model is based on the "e:NS2," an EV launched in 2024 by Dongfeng Honda (a joint venture with the Chinese major Dongfeng Motor Group), with modifications for the Japanese market including right-hand drive and compatible charging systems.
"Quality is managed according to global standards," said Kunihiro Koike, the head of development. "We will continue to consider introducing more overseas-manufactured vehicles to the domestic market."
Honda originally launched the first-generation Insight in 1999 as its first hybrid vehicle. Production of the third-generation model ended in 2022. Now, after approximately four years, the "Insight" name has been revived as an EV.
In March, Honda announced it would cease the development and sales of three EV models, including its flagship sedan. The company expects a consolidated net loss (under International Financial Reporting Standards) of up to 690 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2026, compared to a profit of 835.8 billion yen the previous year. A new management strategy is set to be announced in May.