Honda launches first electric CUV onto Chinese market only

Honda has announced that its electric crossover utility, the Everus VE-1, is going to made exclusively for the Chinese market.

Reminiscent of the popular Honda HR-V, it is the production version of the Everus EV concept the automaker that was first seen at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2018.

With a 53.6kWh battery pack, 340km range (NEDC) and a 120kW motor with maximum torque of 280Nm, it’s a considerably more attractive design that the Urban EV concept revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The crossover EV will go into production next month, according to reports from Indian Auto Blog, in collaboration with Chinese auto giant GAC, who together are putting in 3.27 billion yuan (about $A650 million) to build a new auto factory in China.

Honda (which will sell the Everus VE-1 through GAC-operated Honda showrooms) expects to sell the electric CUV (compact utility vehicle) for around 128,800 yuan (equal to about $A45,000 before on road costs), according to figures from Malaysian site Key Auto.

The announcement was made this week at Auto Guangzhou, the annual automotive trade show being currently held in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou just northwest of Hong Kong, and indicates that in China at least, Honda considers electric cars to be profitable.

This is in contrast to Australia, where Honda has previously said that it doesn’t expect to to bring any electric vehicles to Australia, citing “very, very low ” demand.

We have reached out to Honda Australia to find out if this stance has changed but as yet do not have nay word – we will keep you posted.