Honda Thailand announced that it has begun local production of the e:N1 in the Kingdom, ahead of its launch scheduled next year. The electric compact crossover will be produced at the company’s Rojana Industrial Park facility, making Honda the first Japanese carmaker to locally assemble electric passenger cars in Thailand.
A new EV-specific production line has been set up at the factory, which the company says, in a press release, displays its commitment towards the Thai market.
The local production of the Honda e:N1 will also contribute to the growth of the automotive industry in Thailand, especially thanks to the usage of localised domestic parts from within the Kingdom.
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The electric crossover first made its global debut in China as the e:Np1, later exported to Europe with the name e:Ny1. Called the e:N1 in Thailand, the model might look very much like the HR-V on the outside, but Honda says that it is actually built on completely different underpinnings, dubbed the e:N Architecture F platform.
Performance wise, the Honda e:N1 in Thailand should be powered by the same single motor set-up as seen in China and Europe, with the motor mounted on the front axle to make 150 kW (204 hp) and 310 Nm. In the two existing markets, electric power is supplied by a 68.8 kWh battery pack capable of providing up to 412 km of range (WLTP).
Closer to home, Honda Malaysia has reiterated their commitment towards hybrid technology instead of diving head-first into full EVs, citing practicality concerns within its customers. Unfortunately, that should mean that we’re unlikely to see the e:N1 entering our Malaysian market anytime soon.
Given the popularity of the Honda HR-V and EVs in general here in Malaysia, we think that the Honda e:N1 could definitely stand a chance against the ever-growing Chinese competition in the country – especially when coupled to the tax incentives given by the Government. Would you like to see the Honda e:N1 make an appearance here in Malaysia? Sound off in the comments below!
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