Honda is altering the naming of its electric cars after prospects discovered the e:N badging too troublesome to pronounce.
The Japanese model unveiled the brand new naming system on the Beijing motor show, beginning with the Ye P7 large SUV that can go on sale in China later this yr.
Honda UK imports its sole EV, the e:Ny1 small SUV, from China, the place the e:N naming conference comes from, and the identify can be modified when the automotive is facelifted, a supply near Honda mentioned.
“Customers in China just can’t pronounce it,” the supply instructed Autocar.
The replace, anticipated subsequent yr, will even incorporate a few of the design options of the P7, together with the illuminated Honda badge, the supply mentioned.
In China, Honda makes use of both the e:NS1 or e:NP1 name for its small electrical SUV, relying on whether or not the automotive is made by its three way partnership with Dongfeng or that with GAC, whereas in Europe it makes use of e:Ny1.
Under the brand new naming scheme, Honda in China has stored the P and S letters relying on which three way partnership builds the automotive, which means it may in Europe rename the automotive the Y1.
Keeping the Y factor would additionally keep away from awkward conversions with McLaren or Audi if utilizing the P1 or S1 identify.
Audi has been very protecting of its naming system, final yr forcing Chinese EV maker Nio to vary the identify of its ES6 and ES8 SUVs on the idea that they sounded an excessive amount of like S6 and S8.
The new P7/S7 is the primary of Honda’s new Ye Series vehicles, primarily based on a newly developed EV-specific platform. Honda has mentioned it can launch a complete of 10 new EVs in China by 2027.
The separate EV branding is a part of a method by Honda in China to maneuver its model upmarket within the change to electrical in an effort to raised compete amid a brutal worth battle.
The change to the brand new naming and design language got here too late for the brand new e:NS2 mid-size hatchback, which has simply gone on sale in China at ¥159,800 (£17,700) – a worth so low-cost that Honda loses the equal of £5500 per automotive, the supply mentioned.
The e:NS2, which may doubtlessly comply with the e:Ny1 to Europe, has a 68.8kWh battery pack for a CLTC vary of 339 miles.
Honda sells the e:Ny1 within the UK from £39,995, though it has been giving heavy reductions (presently £3000, with finance at simply 1.9% APR) in an effort to hit its ZEV mandate goal for 2024.