- Honda will export its China-built EVs to Japan for the first time.
- The e:NS2 will arrive in Japan wearing the familiar Insight name.
- It uses a 68.8 kWh battery and a 201 hp front motor.
The EVs Honda co-developed with Dongfeng in China have not taken off as the company had hoped, but soon they will no longer be limited to that market. Honda has confirmed it will begin exporting some of its China-built EVs to Japan, where they could be a tough sell. One of them, the e:NS2, will arrive with a familiar name, reviving the Insight badge previously used on Honda’s first mass-produced hybrid.
Sales of fully electric vehicles in Japan have remained sluggish in recent years, even as global EV adoption continues to climb. EVs account for less than 2 percent of new cars sold in Japan, and many of those are compact electric minicars such as the Honda N-One e: and the N-Van e:.
While Honda has only confirmed the Insight-badged model for Japan so far, Nikkei Asia reports that several vehicles from the Chinese e:N lineup could eventually be adapted to meet Japanese specifications. These models were co-developed with GAC and are separate from the Ye-series EVs that Honda also sells in China.
Read: Meet Honda’s New E:NP2 And E:NS2 Electric Crossovers For China
It was initially reported that the first Chinese EV to arrive in Japan would be the e:NP2. Revealed in production form two years ago, it is a sleek crossover roughly comparable in size to the Tesla Model Y. Honda has since confirmed that role will instead go to the e:NS2, which sits lower than the e:NP2 and is shaped more like a high-riding liftback sedan.
A Modern Insight
Underpinning the Insight is the carmaker’s e:N Architecture F platform, which uses a 68.8 kWh battery pack from CATL and a front electric motor producing 201 hp. Under China’s generous CLTC testing standards, it offers an electric driving range of 339 miles (545 km). In Japan, the model is rated at 311 miles on the WLTC testing cycle.
Honda has yet to announce pricing for the Insight, but it says it plans to sell only 3,000 units locally each year, so it will not exactly take over Japan’s roads. Reservations open on March 19.
Key details for the Japanese-spec model include LED headlights with an illuminated Honda badge and matching LED taillights. It also features flush door handles and rides on 18-inch wheels as standard. Honda has confirmed four selectable drive modes: Sport, Normal, Econ, and Snow. The Sport setting also adds synthetic sound effects, and the EV includes Honda’s Agile Handling Assist system.
Inside, the cabin shares a few touches with Honda models sold in Western markets, including familiar steering wheel controls. Beyond that, it leans into features more commonly seen on China-developed EVs.
A large central infotainment display dominates the simple dashboard layout, while a sunroof and configurable ambient lighting add some flair. Other highlights include real leather seats, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a digital rearview mirror with a built-in dashcam.
