American Honda Motor Co.’s future evolution is not only electric, it’s digital.
As the introduction of the automaker’s first new-era electric crossovers draws near with the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX, the company is just as focused on digitizing the user experience as it is on launching its first two competitive zero-emission vehicles.
The Acura ZDX will offer the brand’s first iteration of Google Built In when it goes on sale early next year. The Honda Prologue, also scheduled for an early 2024 on sale date, will likely offer the same type of in-car digital experience.
The digital platform tethers the user to the vehicle through their Google profile and immediately enables a smartphone-less connected in-car experience.
Both 2024 model year EVs are being co-developed with General Motors on Ultium battery-electric platforms and represent the first major step toward American Honda’s goal of selling 500,000 EVs in North America by 2030.
In-vehicle connectivity will create a more productive ownership experience, said Raj Manakkal, American Honda’s assistant vice president of digital services development.
“We’re talking about software and digital services that can create new values to owners, even after they buy the car — this is the direction we are moving,” Manakkal told Automotive News.
The company’s next EV phase will see electrification and digitization more tightly intertwined. In 2026, Honda will market models based on a new software-defined platform called e:Architecture.
Manakkal said electric vehicles afford developers a domain to create distinct features and services, especially when it comes to charging and route planning.
For now, the Acura brand will serve as the “tip of the spear” for digitization across the company’s products.
