Honda plans EV production

Although General Motors will build Honda’s first two fully electric vehicles for North America, the Japanese automaker plans to change course and manufacture its own later this decade.

Company officials say they’re developing their own EV architecture, and after two GMmade EVs go on sale in 2024, Honda will start building its own.

“It’s absolutely our intention to produce in our factories,” Honda of America Executive Vice President Dave Gardner said, adding that Honda has developed battery manufacturing expertise from building gaselectric hybrids. “We absolutely intend to utilize that resource.”

Honda and GM have been partners on hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicles. Earlier this year they announced that GM would build one Honda SUV and one Acura SUV using its Ultiumbranded electric vehicle architecture and battery system. The company said the Honda SUV would be named the Prologue, and that both SUVs will have bodies, interiors and driving characteristics designed by Honda.

But after those two, Honda plans its own manufacturing for most of a series of electric vehicles, although it hasn’t determined if it will use GM components.

In April, the company said it plans to phase out all of its gasolinepowered vehicles in North America by 2040, making it the latest major automaker with a goal of becoming carbon neutral.