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Honda Prologue to launch in 2024, shares Hummer EV’s platform

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The definition of prologue, as defined by the dictionary is: “An event or action that leads to another event or situation.” With that in mind, Honda has appropriately named its upcoming battery-electric SUV. The 2024 Honda Prologue will be the automaker’s first full-volume battery-electric vehicle (BEV) with sights set on more.

A lot more.

“Launching our first volume BEV in 2024 is the start of an exciting new direction for Honda,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations at American Honda Motor Co. Inc., in a press release. “We are working with our dealers to plan the transition from sales of primarily gasoline-powered vehicles to selling 100% electric vehicles by 2040.”

Honda says the target number for production of the Prologue is 70,000 units with a launch in 2024.

To achieve this number, it will target sales to specific areas first, such as California and the ZEV states including southern states like Texas and Florida where the infrastructure is more suited.

Honda’s carbon-neutral goal

Like many automotive manufacturers, Honda has ambitious plans to have a fully electric line by 2040. According to information provided by Honda, global CEO Toshihiro Mibe outlined the company’s vision for global sales of electrified vehicles as part of Honda’s strategy to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050. This vision calls for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to progress from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040.

Honda previously dipped its toe in the electric vehicle world with the EV Plus vehicle in 1997 plus the Honda Clarity series from a couple of years ago.

As Honda prepares for the launch of Prologue, the company will introduce hybrid-electric systems to more core models to continue to reduce CO2 emissions and bridge customers to the volume battery-electric vehicles now in development says the automaker.

Here’s the really interesting thing about the Prologue, however: It is being co-developed with General Motors, and it will be built on the Ultium platform. So, yes, that means it will be built on the same platform as the upcoming GMC Hummer EV. Therefore, even though we don’t have any photos of this new electric SUV, we expect it to be of the full-size variety and get a range upwards of 300 miles.

The bottom line on the Prologue

None of this should come as a surprise as every automotive manufacturer prepares for a new future that doesn’t include internal-combustion technology. The push toward electrification is happening.

Honda is wise not only partner up with GM but also test the EV waters and do this transition slowly. Additionally, Honda starting in areas more open-minded to EVs will set it up for success. As usual, Honda is playing it conservatively and the Prologue seems like a great first introduction for them.

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Jimmy Dinsmore

Jimmy is News Editor for PickupTruckTalk with an expertise in new vehicles. He is also a Ford Mustang historian having authored the book Mustang by Design (available on Amazon). His second book, about the history of Ford's F-Series truck comes out next year.

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