CES2025 | new Honda 0 EV models inch closer to production

Honda kicked off the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in high style today with the global debut of the first two models in its new 0 Series of EVs set to roll off the line in 2026 – along with your newest road trip buddy: ASIMO (!).

With talk of artificial intelligence and robotics beginning to overwhelm the discussion around forward-looking automobiles, it’s worth noting that Honda has been developing both advanced AIs and humanoid robots for decades – most notably the friendly, faceless ASIMO robot that promised to take care of lonely seniors (as opposed to Tesla’s Optimus, which promises to take your union job and put your family on the street).

As a huge fan of the OG ASIMO, I was genuinely delighted to see the friendly robot’s name featured prominently in the official press release announcing the new 0 Series.

Welcome back, ASIMO

In its latest iteration, ASIMO isn’t a cuddly robot, but a new, original vehicle operating system developed by Honda that, the brand hopes, will offer a similarly friendly e-mobility experience to 0 Series drivers.

ASIMO has learned a lot from other proprietary vehicle OSs, too. For starters, it’s constantly updating the in-vehicle software through over the air (OTA) updates for both the digital UX and integrated dynamics controls that will allow Honda to deliver, “a personalized ownership experience that will enhance the joy of driving.”

For 0 Series drivers who find more joy in texting than steering, ASIMO will also be managing an updated version of Honda SENSING Elite – a Level 3 autonomous ADAS solution first seen on the 2021 Honda Legend in the Japanese Market.

2021 Honda Legend

Which is great information for Honda enthusiasts – but you’re not here to talk about a five year old, ICE-powered, Japan-only sedan. This is Electrek, and you’re here for the new hotness, and that starts with a look at the new, electric Honda 0 SUV.

2026 Honda 0 SUV

Further developing the themes first shown in last year’s Honda Space-Hub concept and based on Honda’s new, internally-developed EV architecture, the 0 SUV will be the first “all Honda” EV to hit the US market when starts rolling off the production line at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio in the first half of 2026.

That’s right, kids: the new Honda EVs will be made in the USA, deftly avoiding any potential tariffs and heralding the results of more than $5 billion of investment in American manufacturing on Honda’s part – something that’s refreshing to see in a market where corporate news has been dominated by multi-billion dollar stock buybacks and labor disputes in recent months.

Details like battery capacity, power and torque, dynamic performance figures, and even driving range are limited – if not nonexistent. That said, it’s safe to assume that the

2026 Honda 0 Saloon

Over on the sedan side, the prototype Honda 0 Saloon is a stone-cold stunner. One of my fellow journalists remarked that it looked more like, “a Lamborghini Saloon than a Honda,” and the remark was met with knowing nods. For sure, there is a LOT of Honda’s iconic, Pininfarina-designed HPX concept from 1984 in the new 0 Saloon’s profile – but that’s wholly intentional, and the HPX was alluded to as one of the company’s stylistic touchpoints when the 0 Series concept made its debut at last year’s CES.

Like the SUV, the Saloon announcement is light on details. Still, the company says the new car will feature several next-generation technologies that, “embody the ‘Thin, Light and Wise’ development approach of the Honda 0 Series.

Being none of those things, I’d like to hear more about horsepower and torque – or, at least, have a better understanding of how those rear windows are supposed to go up and down.

That said, this is a prototype. That’s different from a concept in the sense that most concept cars have almost no chance at production. In contrast, a prototype is just that: the first (proto) of its kind (type). It’s sort of promise to stakeholders that something really very much a whole lot just. Like. This. Is coming … and maybe even coming soon.

Charging the 0 Series

At a Honda roundtable discussion ahead of CES2025, Honda North America executives discussed EV charging – and the feeling was that Honda, like Tesla, was ready to take responsibility for the entire EV ownership experience by playing a bigger role in IONNA, the 7 OEM collaboration launched last February.

We’re not going to see Honda-branded chargers, but Honda insists it isn’t going to leave the charging experience to someone else, either.

“The goal is to have ASIMO deliver live trip planning and charge point routing, but customize the experience as it gets to know you,” explains Jay Joseph, VP of Sustainability and Business Development at Honda North America (paraphrasing). “Whether that’s routing you to a charge point that uses cleaner energy or locations that have pet-friendly facilities, that’s something that we hope to bring to the charging experience.”

What’s more, Honda wants that charging experience to be as easy and ubiquitous as gas is today. “We believe we can rival Supercharger Network by the end of this decade,” continues Joseph. “We’re very confident,” he said, doubling down, while he explained that Honda would deliver the 0 Series models with J3400/NACS (read: Tesla) style connectors.

Plug and charge, AI-driven routing and charging suggestions and trip navigation, and more ASIMO-driven improvements to the EV ownership experience were mentioned – “by the middle of next decade, BEVs could be the largest source of stored energy to help smooth out the so-called ‘duck curve’ of the current energy grid. We think V2G will help smooth that out, and enable customers’ energy costs to be much more predictable.”

Electrek’s Take

Up close, Honda’s upcoming 0 Series SUV seems much closer to production-spec than its Saloon sibling – and that makes sense. In North America and Europe, these cars’ primary markets, five passenger crossovers are the meatiest part of the mainstream market, and where any economies of scale are likely to take place.

And that’s fine. Honda isn’t saying “this is it,” they’re saying they’re going to build something like this. The details may change, the bumpers may grow a bit and the wheels may shrink a bit and the mirrors will definitely grow a whole lot, but if you like the way these prototypes look, you’ll probably like the production version.

The real news here, then, isn’t the cars. Yes, they’re great-looking machines, and they improve (I think) on the themes first shown in 2024. Instead, the news is that Honda is taking their customers’ entire ownership experience seriously – and they’re using AI in a way that promises to cater to your individual needs, not necessarily market to your individual tastes.

It will do that, too, of course. But not just that.

We’ll have more Honda and CES2025 news throughout the week. For now, though, take a look at some of the sneak peek photos we took last night and let us know what you think of the updated Honda 0 Series EVs in the comments section.

2026 Honda 0 Series gallery

SOURCE | IMAGES: Honda, Electrek.