Honda’s 2030 EV sales goal slips out of reach
Honda is tapping the brakes on one of its loftiest transitional production targets. The company confirmed it no longer expects to hit its goal of making 30% of global car sales EVs by 2030. The automaker previously hoped to offer a 100% electric lineup by 2040, by the way. The update came directly from Honda’s global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, who offered a wide-ranging strategy realignment in response to a shifting global market.
A cocktail of slowing EV demand, shifting government regulations, and murky trade policies
That’s led Honda to rethink its roadmap. Rather than pushing full throttle toward EVs, the company is pivoting to lean harder on hybrids, especially the next-gen models it plans to roll out starting in 2027.
Mibe said the company still sees EVs as the long-term key to carbon neutrality, and it’s not walking away from that vision. But in the short term, hybrids, particularly Honda’s own e:HEV system, are going to carry more of the load.
By 2030, Honda now aims to sell over 3.6 million vehicles globally, with hybrids accounting for 2.2 million of those
The focus will be on making these models smarter and more appealing through advanced driver assistance features. Honda said in its 2025 Business Briefing that it’s also aiming to cut hybrid system costs by over 50% compared to 2018, which could help keep prices in check.
EV plans are still on the table, just with a new timeline. Honda’s upcoming 0 Series will debut next year, packed with next-gen software and hardware to showcase its long-term EV vision. But the bigger investments, like the full EV supply chain Honda had planned in Canada, are now on pause.
Meanwhile, Honda says it’s investing in “flexibility”
It’s building production lines that can crank out either EVs or hybrids, depending on demand. This gives Honda some breathing room while the auto world figures out just how fast consumers—and governments—really want to go electric.
In short, Honda’s not out of the EV race. It’s just pacing itself. And with strong hybrid sales and a booming motorcycle business helping fund the ride, the automaker seems intent on staying competitive while avoiding unnecessary whiplash.
