If you’ve been glued to the European EV news cycle like a caffeine-fueled car enthusiast awaiting new battery tech, you’ve no doubt spotted chatter about the Honda e:Ny1—a stylish, fully electric B-segment SUV aiming straight for urban drivers with practicality and panache. But as any Kiwi car nerd will tell you, there’s one burning question at the tip of the South Island: “Is the Honda e:Ny1 coming to New Zealand soon?”
Alas, let’s cut through the sleek marketing and LED-laden press kits: as of mid-2024, Honda’s official communication and all provided press material focus solely on the European launch. The e:Ny1 is Honda’s second fully electric vehicle for Europe, reflecting the brand’s latest shift in design language, electrification, and digital user experience, not to mention a debut of new badging and a fresh typeface seemingly crafted to lure badge spotters and typography devotees alike.
Under the skin, e:Ny1 is based on the new e:N Architecture F platform, packing a punchy 150 kW front-mounted motor and a 68.8 kWh battery—delivering a commendable WLTP range of up to 412 km, plus brisk DC charging that zaps from 10% to 80% in just 45 minutes . Its interior promises space and comfort, with advanced Honda SENSING safety tech and a raft of digital connectivity. Exterior-wise, it’s an HR-V cousin with a clean-shaven grill and an all-new “white H” badge, floating amidst five paint options and bespoke 18-inch alloys.
But—and it’s a big, suspenseful SUV-sized but—Honda’s official teasers are laser-focused on Europe. As of now, there’s been no announcement of an Australasian release date, let alone confirmed plans for New Zealand. This isn’t entirely surprising given Honda’s history: new EV platforms almost always launch in mature, high-volume EV markets before making their way to regions like NZ, where infrastructure and market volume are still catching up.
Could you see a right-hand-drive e:Ny1 silently rolling onto NZ shores in the near future? Perhaps, but not imminently. Honda New Zealand hasn’t made a peep since we spoke to them at the Civic launch, and the global product pipeline for small-to-mid electric SUVs remains heavily Europe-centric for this model cycle.
So for now, Kiwi EV fans, feel free to drool over the e:Ny1’s impressive specs, clever design, and flamboyant Aqua Topaz paint jobs. But unless Honda shifts gears soon, you’ll have to wait a little longer before this European darling sashays down the streets of Auckland or Wellington. Watch this space—and charge your patience.
The Honda e:Ny1 is electrifying European roads but there’s currently no official word on a New Zealand launch. But keep your charging cables coiled and your hopes tentatively high.
