Honda CEO Takizawa Speaks on EV Transition: Incentives Not Enough to Force Change

The chief executive of Honda has expressed that it's not possible to coerce individuals into altering their opinions on electric vehicles. Presently, electric and hybrid vehicles are experiencing a contradictory phase.

During a conversation at the 2024 Monterey Car Week, The Drive caught up with Kazuhiro Takizawa, the President and CEO of American Honda, who shared insights on electric vehicles, environmental considerations, and customer engagement.

Takizawa stated, "It's impossible to coerce a customer into altering their opinion, in truth, and while there's a certain extent to which we can encourage them, we simply can't compel individuals residing in areas like the midwest, where there are no charging facilities."

Takizawa is of the opinion that despite the enticements offered, the shift from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles will not happen swiftly, but rather will occur slowly over time, as per the executive's viewpoint.

During the occasion, Acura unveiled a concept for a Performance Electric Vehicle, providing a glimpse into one of the initial electric vehicles the high-end car manufacturer will produce based on the proprietary Honda 0 platform. The final product is expected to be manufactured at the company’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, with production commencing in 2025.

Honda is in the midst of investing $700 million to upgrade three of its factories and is also constructing a $3.5 billion battery facility to boost its electric vehicle production in the United States. These initiatives may enable Honda to surpass every other electric vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. market, except for Tesla.

Takizawa made remarks shortly before Ford altered its approach to electric vehicles, cancelling their planned three-row electric model and reinforcing their commitment to hybrid vehicles.

During the 2024 Monterey Car Week, Lucid's chief executive, Peter Rawlinson, mentioned that the current slowdown in the electric vehicle market is just a brief setback. He also stated that reverting to hybrid vehicles is a misguided approach. Lucid's head of design and brand, Derek Jenkins, alongside Rawlinson, pointed out that even though there is an abundance of electric vehicle choices available to buyers, they fail to impress.

Takizawa believes that electric vehicles powered by batteries are the optimal solution for achieving a carbon-neutral status. However, he points out that the current infrastructure for charging is insufficient. He also mentioned that it takes time to resolve societal challenges and implement societal shifts.

Honda's latest electric vehicle, the Prologue, is essentially a revamped version of the Chevrolet Blazer EV, utilizing General Motors' Ultium battery framework. Upon its release, Green Car Reports observed in February that the mid-sized SUV represents a move towards a more "normal" electric vehicle approach. Unlike the specialized Toyota bZ4x, the Prologue is targeting current Honda drivers of models such as the Accord, CR-V, and Passport who are interested in transitioning to electric vehicles.

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