Honda 0 Series Alpha small electric SUV still under consideration for Australia

Honda Australia still has the 0 Series Alpha small electric SUV on its radar – even after the rest of the previously planned 0 Series models were axed last month.

The local arm of the Japanese brand says the cancellation of several 0 Series electric vehicles (EVs) amid a global product reshuffle hasn’t significantly impacted its electrification plans, with the remaining SUV still on its wish list.

It had previously said it was evaluating all 0 Series models for Australian showrooms.

“The decision made globally doesn’t mean that 0 Series is completely dead,” Honda Australia director Robert Thorp told CarExpert.

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“There’s still opportunities for us to look in that space, which if it all works, we’ll do our best to market.”

One of those opportunities is the remaining 0 Series Alpha small SUV.

“There were two models that were ultimately discontinued, but in terms of development there is still the 0 Series name, and there is still a 0 Series vehicle I think we’ll launch [overseas] next year,” the Honda boss said.

“We’re looking at that [for Australia], but along with anything else that’s available to us.”

The two cancelled 0 Series models – a sedan and a large SUV – were targeted at the US market, while the remaining 0 Series Alpha small SUV will be positioned as a more affordable EV for Asian and Pacific Rim markets.

The Alpha is still scheduled to enter production in India in 2027, and has been confirmed for release in both Japan and India.

The cancellation of the US-focused models comes as Honda deals with financial pressure amid slowing sales and lower profits, as well as the US ending incentives for EV buyers in September 2025.

The easing of emissions regulations in the US following the repeal of the 2009 ‘endangerment finding’ in February 2026 – which had underpinned vehicle emissions laws for more than a decade – was also a factor.

While not on its Australian division’s public wish list, Honda has also cancelled its planned tie-up with Sony to build an electric sedan – the Afeela 1 – which had been due for launch later this year, along with a follow-up SUV slated for mid-2028 release.

The removal of the 0 Series sedan and large SUV won’t dent Honda Australia’s growth ambitions, Mr Thorp said, following its 9.2 per cent sales increase in 2025 – although the brand has not specified a future sales target.

“It’s a broad strategy,” Mr Thorp told CarExpert. “The Australian market hasn’t fundamentally changed as a result of the 0 Series decision… our plans always had 0 Series with a niche volume.”

“Zero Series was always going to be a model that was a brand opportunity for us – a demonstration of technology – but they were always going to be niche.

“So yes, it’s a bit upsetting to lose that opportunity, but it doesn’t really change a broad strategy in the short term.”

The Honda Super-ONE will be the first EV in local Honda showrooms when it arrives in the second half of 2026 with styling inspired by the original Honda City hatchback sold here between 1984 and 1993.

Before it arrives, Honda’s local new model rollout will include the born-again Prelude sports coupe – priced from $65,000 drive-away – which will soon join the updated CR-V mid-size SUV in showrooms.

The latter includes a lower-priced entry-level CR-V hybrid variant priced at $49,900 drive-away, $7000 less than the cheapest petrol-electric version offered last year.

“We’ve been very open in that. We still believe that the transition to an electrified era is via hybrids first,” said Mr Thorp.

“The majority of consumers that transition to hybrid first is what’s going to happen en masse and therefore our strategy, particularly in the short term, is very much geared around that.” MORE: Explore the Honda showroom