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Honda’s future plan covers a locally-made electric SUV, a sub-4m SUV, a possible larger SUV above Elevate and more
Honda Cars India looks to be working on a new product cycle built around SUVs, hybrid technology and a locally developed electric vehicle. The company’s Rajasthan plant can produce around 1.8 lakh vehicles annually but current utilisation is well below that level. The same facility can be scaled to nearly 2.2 lakh units if future volumes support the investment.
Gaps in the SUV space have hurt Honda in India over the last few years. The City and Amaze kept the sedan side active but the market moved quickly towards SUVs across several price points. Models such as the BR-V, Mobilio and WR-V left the domestic portfolio without making massive impact while rival brands filled compact, midsize and premium SUV categories at a faster pace.
The latest product activity has started from the upper end of the range. Honda recently revealed the ZR-V Hybrid for India and deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2026. Its customer bookings are already open and it will become the brand’s most expensive offering currently upon launch. The SUV will arrive as a CBU and sit above the Elevate, so it will act more as a premium technology-led model than a volume driver.
It is equipped with a 2.0L strong hybrid petrol engine producing more than 180 hp. The larger opportunity lies in locally developed SUVs. An electric SUV based on the Elevate platform is under development and could arrive around FY27. The road testing for the midsize e-SUV began a few months ago and the model may also be evaluated for exports after its domestic introduction.
The compact SUV category is another area Honda wants to re-enter. The WR-V no longer exists in the Indian line-up and the latest global WR-V was not chosen for local sale. Reports indicate that Honda is working on a new sub-four-metre SUV for India which would give the brand access to one of the country’s high volume passenger vehicle segments.
Another SUV positioned above the Elevate is also believed to be under consideration. It could help Honda cover the price space between the Elevate and the imported ZR-V Hybrid while more fully-imported models including the Prelude could be in the pipeline. The company sees strong hybrids as suitable for local driving conditions especially in markets where EV charging access differs by region while fully electric vehicles will still be part of the plans.
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