963% surge: Honda hits explosive EV sales growth in the US

Honda’s electric vehicle (EV) sales in the US have experienced a notable surge, led by the debut of the Honda Prologue SUV in early 2025.

The Prologue has quickly become a key player in Honda’s electrification effort, posting a 963% sales increase year-over-year in the US market, with over 9,500 units sold in Q1 alone.

This surge pushed Honda into the competitive landscape of top EV sellers, marking a significant milestone for a brand previously not focused heavily on fully electric vehicles in the US.

After having virtually no presence in the US EV market prior to late 2023, Honda now stands as a major contender, fuelled primarily by the strong debut of the Honda Prologue SUV and its luxury sibling, the Acura ZDX.

Honda sold over 14,000 EVs in Q1 2025 across both Honda and Acura brands.

The Prologue alone accounted for 9,561 units in Q1, putting Honda into the Top 10 US EV sellers by individual model for the first time.

Combined, Honda’s Q1 2025 EV sales surpassed historic names like Kia and nearly matched Volkswagen, a testament to the company’s successful entry strategy.

A headline-grabbing data point: the Prologue posted a 963% sales increase year-over-year as Honda ramped up production and distribution to meet burgeoning demand in the US EV segment.

Honda’s leap is especially notable against the backdrop of its rivals: Honda not only jumped past legacy import brands like Nissan and rivals like Kia but nearly matches Volkswagen’s long-standing ID.4 EV sales in Q1. 

While Tesla remains the market leader, Honda’s explosive momentum stands out amid a generally cooling EV market:

Several factors contributed to Honda’s rapid gains:

New model launch: The Honda Prologue hit showrooms in late 2024 and was praised for competitive pricing, range, and features.

GM partnership: The Prologue and ZDX employ GM’s Ultium battery platform, allowing quicker ramp-up with proven technology.

Dealer network: Honda leveraged its extensive US dealer network for rapid rollout and servicing.

Effective brand positioning: Honda’s established reputation for reliability reassured first-time EV buyers.

Honda’s timing of its US EV push was nearly flawless, especially as traditional leaders like Tesla posted a 10% year-over-year sales decline in the US, and Ford struggled with faltering EV sales in 2025. 

While GM also recorded meteoric growth (Chevy doubled its EV sales over the same period), Honda’s 963% surge far outpaces most competitors in relative terms, according to Electrek.

In only a year-and-a-half after essentially having zero fully electric vehicles sold in the US, Honda’s leap onto the charts highlights the brand’s adaptability and growing appeal in the American EV landscape. 

Despite this impressive growth in EV sales numbers, Honda is strategically recalibrating its long-term approach to electrification.

Recent reports reveal that Honda has cancelled plans to develop a large electric SUV originally targeted for 2027 due to slumping EV demand and shifting market dynamics. 

This decision aligns with Honda’s broader pivot toward hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), planning to launch 13 new hybrid models between 2027 and 2031 with an ambitious target of selling 2.2 million hybrid vehicles globally by 2030. 

Honda’s CEO Toshihiro Mibe has indicated that EVs are now expected to account for about 20% of sales by 2030 — down from earlier 30% projections — while hybrids will play the leading role in their near-term strategy.

In comparison to other leading EV manufacturers in the US, Honda’s 2025 Q1 Prologue sales tally places it solidly among important competitors.