Honda is planning to do things a bit differently in the future amid its ambitious EV plans. The carmaker aims to sell 1.2 million hybrids this year, with sub-brand Acura accounting for 160,000 units. However, from 2024, buyers will only be able to complete their purchase online.
SVP of sales for Honda, Mamadou Diallo, said of Acura’s plans in a press release, “In 2023, we will see the strategies we’ve been talking about, including growing sales of light truck models, increasing volume of hybrid-electric models and the start of digital sales at Acura. All this leads toward our vision of 100-percent electrified sales by 2040 to fulfill our ultimately goal of zero emissions by 2050.”
Acura will sell the ZDX and ZDX Type S, its first pair of fully electric vehicles online only. However, Diallo didn’t have much details to give as to how the system will work. But he promised more discussion with its dealers and the press as the launch draws closer.
For parent company Honda 2023 will mark the start of pre-sales for the Prologue, the automaker’s first electric SUV. Deliveries of the Prologue are scheduled to start in early 2024.
Acura will be emulating a growing list of EV makers adopting Tesla’s online sales style. Ford and GM have made similar announcements, while startups including, Rivian and Lucid, already sell to customers directly.
However, Ford and GM are attempting to convert their dealers into EV sellers.
