Honda e here first through Taupo dealership

Honda’s first mass-produced EV the compact Honda e is likely to reach New Zealand first through Taupo-based Drive EV.

The dealership owner/operator Steve Greenwood confirms he expects one Honda e is due to arrive there in October.

It’s a top spec 2020 Advance model optioned in Crystal Black paint.

The two-door Honda e was launched in Europe in August and reported to go on sale in Japan from late October, with Honda New Zealand keen to get it here new but still awaiting developments.

The 35.5kWh battery powered EV, which has more than 200km range, suits city driving and is earmarked for European and Japanese markets (with 10,000 annual sales forecast for the former and 1000 for the latter), Reuters reports.

The Honda e has sharp handling to enable u turns in narrow streets and cameras replacing side mirrors, with Honda e chief engineer Tomofumi Ichinose saying smaller is better for cities as most EVs have large capacity batteries but that extra capacity isn’t needed in an urban environment.

Honda has no plans to market the Honda e in the US or China, Reuters

adds, which means it’s mainly likely to get to New Zealand as a second-hand import from Europe and Japan unless dealerships such as Drive EV

can get it new.