Safe from Chinese Car Dominance, Honda Prepares 10 New Models in This Country

JAKARTA - Honda is increasingly focusing its global strategy on India as a market with great growth potential and a relatively looser level of competition than Chinese car manufacturers. The Japanese manufacturer even formed a special India project team at the global level to accelerate product development and sales strategies.

In the period from 2026 to 2030, Honda plans a total of 10 launches, with details including new models, mid-cycle refreshes, to full generational changes. As reported by Gaadiwaadi, Monday, December 15.

Although the full details have not been revealed, the direction of Honda's product development in India is beginning to be seen clearly. In the first half of 2026, Honda is scheduled to launch the Prelude, a hybrid sports coupe positioned as the successor to the previous generation Civic Coupe.

This model will be imported in its entirety from Japan with a completely built unit (CBU) status and is estimated to be priced at around 70-80 lakh rupees. Prelude shares a platform with the latest Civic Hybrid and carries a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a hybrid system.

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Still in the same year, possibly in the fourth quarter of 2026, Honda will present the ZR-V as a challenger to the Volkswagen Tiguan. The SUV will also enter India as a CBU from Japan, with an estimated price of 50-55 lakh rupees.

The ZR-V Hybrid uses the same powertrain as the Prelude, but offers a different performance character. The Prelude is claimed to be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.2 seconds, with a top speed of 188 kilometers per hour and a WLTC fuel efficiency of 23.6 kilometers per liter.

Meanwhile, the ZR-V Hybrid recorded an acceleration of 0-100 kilometers per hour in 7.8 seconds, a maximum speed of 173 kilometers per hour, and a WLTC efficiency of 22.1 kilometers per liter. In addition to the new model, Honda is also preparing a refresh for the existing line.

Elevate will get a facelift, while the fifth-generation City is preparing for a second refresh. Both are expected to launch in the second half of 2026. Entering early 2027, Honda will introduce the 0 Alpha as its first pure electric vehicle in India.

The electric car is positioned to compete with the Hyundai Creta Electric and was developed as an electric car from the start. Honda will offer two battery options using LFP cells produced by CATL, which are imported from Indonesia.

About a year later, Honda plans to launch the 0 SUV, a D-segment model produced in the United States and imported into India as a CBU. This electric SUV is expected to have a price tag of 70-80 lakh rupees. Honda's roadmap in India continues until 2028 with the presence of the latest generation City.

This model will be built on a new PF2-coded platform and offered in a hybrid variant with a high localization rate so that the price remains competitive. The PF2 platform will also be the basis for Honda's seven-passenger SUV, the latest generation Elevate.