Big Hit in the USA: Does the Honda Prologue Thank Elon Musk?

To everyone’s surprise, Honda’s new electric SUV, produced in the United States, is making an incredible commercial breakthrough.

In the preamble, it is important to put everything into perspective: we are not yet talking about a threat to the Tesla Model Y and its tens of thousands of monthly sales around the world. But since its launch in the spring in the United States, already 25,000 units of the Honda Prologue have been sold in the Land of Uncle Sam. And to be completely transparent, even Honda didn’t seem to expect such a positive momentum.

As the first electric SUV designed for the North American market by the Japanese manufacturer, the Prologue has found its place with nearly 7,000 units sold in just the month of November. Month after month, growth is gradual, and word of mouth is likely playing a role.

What are the reasons for this success?

Honda has enjoyed a solid reputation among American consumers for decades, who appreciate its vehicles for their reliability and low ownership costs. The Prologue directly benefits from this image, which reassures skeptical buyers in the face of the massive electrification of the car fleet. This trust capital has allowed Honda to attract a loyal customer base while also appealing to new enthusiasts.

Honda also wisely chose not to undertake the development of the Prologue alone, aiming to share costs. Its platform was developed in collaboration with General Motors, which launched its own EQUINOX. Thus, both brands manage to reduce manufacturing and sale costs of their SUVs, a win-win approach that reassures everyone about their electrification capabilities.

In terms of specifications, it’s classic American pragmatism: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, 212 or 288 horsepower, an autonomy of 476 km thanks to an 85 kWh battery, and starting prices beginning at $39,900 after federal incentives… not counting the generous rebates from Honda, which positions the Prologue perfectly.

But isn’t the Honda Prologue a concrete example of luring Tesla customers away from Elon Musk‘s brand towards less divisive products? The sales surge coincides with the political statements of Tesla’s CEO, particularly since November and the results of the presidential election which saw Donald Trump elected.

Now, it’s fair to question directly: could Honda be motivated to import the Prologue to Europe?

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