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So now we know what Honda will get out of it’s participation in GM’s Ultium EV platform. I would’ve sworn it would’ve been a full sized EV truck, but crossovers make sense.
Honda will probably be doing more than a rebadge. In an ideal world, Honda’s involvement might increase the build quality and interior materials quality of the GM products on this platform.
Do 'mid to large' EVs matter more than compacts? Honda has an electric vehicle platform, and the Honda e is getting rave reviews in the markets where it's sold. In typical Honda fashion, it seems like they're going to focus on their bread-and-butter and then can expand once they've got that in a good place.
Honda was always LATE on EVERYTHING. Remember Honda was 1 of 2 auto makers developed/selling hybrid cars and how many years took Honda to sell the first hybrid in Acura? how late Honda/Acura had 6-sp auto transmission? Honda is always famous in making good quality value car and small engines. Game changing innovation? VTEC... what else?
I wouldn't call the Asimo, and especially the Honda Jet stupid. Keep in mind that Honda has a lot of engineering exercises, and historically has always given their engineers room to "play" and learn. At the end of the day they manufacture a lot of products, from lawn care, generators, motorcyles, and cars, so it's doing non-automotive projects is far from unusual for the Honda Motor Company.
I think you're right. The Japanese brands are usually quite restrained with new tech.
I for one am glad they're forward-thinking. This was never supposed to pay off in just 10 or 20 years. Now, in another 20 years where do you think their robot tech will be? Asimo can run, climb stairs, help a human carry a large thing and shift weight side-to-side, and some other things in a self-contained humanoid robot shape. Two more decades of development may mean a humanoid robot you can buy that washes your dishes, makes your bed and gets the mail. That'd be cool. Since I'll be 75 in 20 years that could prove to be useful, too!
Surprised you didn't put the part about the Si not having a DSG or automatic option in there lol
Yes, "mid to large EV" is entirely the point. US market is the most important market for Honda and tiny EV doesn't sell here. Honda e is more or less irrelevant for the US market but I do agree it is a solid effort.
It depends on if this is a short term solution for expediency or an actual long term alliance with GM.
We had no SUV platform in the mid-90s either, and look how well that turned out.
If you are running Honda, and you can see that the EV future is still unclear, at least in terms of battery tech (e.g. solid state), large manufacturers still investing in fuel cells (Toyota, Hyundai, and you), uncertainty over battery supply chain, etc, and you have small EVs which can cover Europe, who likely will be more successful at banning ICE within a decade or so, would you go all in on a particular EV, or cover the short term with an alliance, and play the wait and see game, and when a winner emerges, go all in on that front?
Reading is fundamental. Straight from the article: "...everything motorists see and touch will be Honda- or Acura-specific. We're not expecting that the tie-up will spawn a pair of blandly badge-engineered crossovers; stylists will likely give each one its own design identity inside and out."
This is more than a short-term or superficial alliance.
