Honda Australia says it has not been greatly impacted by the recent cancellation of the '0' series EVs.
The Japanese carmaker announced in March that it was pulling the pin on three new EVs it had already developed - the striking Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV and the related Acura RSX. Set to be built in the US, the two 0 models were earmarked for Australia and other global markets.
But just before it started production Honda released a statement saying it "determined that starting production and sales of these three models in the current business environment where the demand for EVs is declining significantly would likely result in further losses over the long term".
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About two weeks after that announcement, Honda confirmed its long-planned partnership with Sony to build an EV under the new Afeela banner had also been abandoned.
Honda Australia Director, Automotive, Robert Thorp said the global decision to drop the 0 Series models was "in response to a whole multitude of factors", and while the Saloon and SUV were being seriously considered for Australia, they were predominantly for North America.
The changing EV landscape in the US under President Donald Trump was one major factor in the decision.
However, there are still Honda EVs in the global catalogue that the Australian arm is keen on, including the 0 Series Alpha revealed at last year's Tokyo motor show.
"The remaining vehicle, being the Alpha, which is still part of the product plan globally, is probably going to be more of an Asian-led vehicle. And therefore the decisions to keep that are a little bit different. And certainly for us, we're considering putting our hand up for that," he told CarsGuide.
"And so for us, that's still a potential option for us. And I think that, from that perspective, EVs aren't completely off. It's just really trying to prioritise the investments and where it could be. So for those being North America, for us locally, those models, whilst we put our hand up for those two, they were only ever going to be niche in many respects. So whilst it's a disappointment that we can't potentially access them, they don't fundamentally change our long-term plans or strategies."
The production version of the 0 Alpha is expected to go on sale in Japan and India next year, meaning if it gets the green light for Australia it probably won't be until 2028 at the earliest.
Honda only recently confirmed its first EV for Australia, the tiny 3.6m long and 1.6m wide Japanese Super-One hatchback. Honda is keeping pricing and mechanical details of the Super-One a secret for now, but reports suggest a driving range of about 274km, meaning it is definitely a city-focused EV and will be a niche seller.
But another global Honda EV the Australian arm is looking at is the recently revealed, reborn Insight.
Up to now the Insight was a hybrid model across three generations, but the fourth-gen version is a mid-size liftback/crossover BEV with driving range of up to 535km (WLTC).
When asked if Honda Australia was considering any of Honda's Chinese-made EVs, and the Insight more specifically, Thorp said "we're constantly scanning the globe for product in the Honda portfolio".
"And if it makes sense and it ticks enough boxes, (those) boxes being can we actually physically bring it to market? Can we make it compliant? Does it actually meet consumer demand? Can we get a volume that's sustainable, etc, etc, etc. Any model that can tick enough of those boxes we'll always put a hand up and ask for."
Thorp said the cancellation of 0 Series models has not had a major impact on the company's preparation for the Federal Government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
"Any change we make, there's an impact. You know whether, if it's 70 per cent hybrid sales to 80 per cent hybrid sales, that has an impact. The date we bring in Super-One and we bring that to market has an impact. Having '0' series in the future or not has an impact. But the variables are numerous and ever changing.
"I will say, though, that our current plans and a strategy which have been in place for a long time, with the knowledge of what the NVES parameters are, we're very comfortable that our plan, in the material sense, works."
