Honda is holding back plans to launch new electric sports cars despite having several prototypes ready, as the automaker reassesses market timing amid slower-than-expected demand for battery-powered vehicles.
“We do have research on EV-based sports cars and we have many prototypes already made internally,” Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe told MotorTrend.
See also: Honda Unveils Next-Generation Hybrid and EV Platforms Ahead of Late-2020s Launch
However, he added that “now is not the right time” to bring a production model to market, noting that engineers are still working to improve electric vehicle technology. “Eventually, at some point, we will provide you with [an electric] GT,” Mibe said.
The comments suggest that a successor to the NSX supercar has been delayed. Acura, Honda’s luxury division, showcased the Electric Vision Design Study concept at Monterey Car Week in 2023, hinting at a possible high-performance EV. Last year, senior executive Shinji Aoyama told reporters, “We are going to introduce a sports model in 2027 or 2028 … We may not call it an NSX, but it’s kind of an NSX-type of vehicle.”
See also: Honda Cuts Annual Profit Forecast by 21% Amid One-Time EV Costs, Weak Asia Sales, and Chip Shortage
That timeline now appears uncertain as the broader EV market cools. While electric vehicle sales continue to rise, the pace of adoption has slowed, prompting several automakers to revise or postpone all-electric strategies.
For now, Honda and Acura’s performance ambitions appear centered on Formula 1, where the company is developing hybrid powertrains ahead of its partnership with Aston Martin in 2026.
