The EV Bust Claims Five More Victims... and They Aren't Even EVs?

PJ Media ^ | 05/06/2026 | Stephen Green

[SeekAndFind]

Honda's failed bet on electric vehicles means the Japanese auto giant will have to stretch the lifecycles of five top-selling vehicles "in some cases to more than a decade," according to a supplier memo seen by Automotive News.

The company will continue selling existing versions of the Odyssey, Accord, and HR-V, as well as the Acura MDX and Integra, after writing down up to $15.8 billion worth of investments in EVs, including eliminating three new EV models for the U.S. market. 

Car and Driver said the 2023-issue Accord "won't be redesigned until at least early 2030," while "the Odyssey minivan isn't set to be replaced until 2030, while the current HR-V SUV will see its production extended until early 2032." The two Acura models will suffer similar delays.

It seems like just earlier this spring [It was just earlier this spring, Steve —Editor] I reported on Honda's massive losses from betting big on EVs — with a big nudge from Big Stupid Government — but the company's losses show up on more than just the balance sheet. That's why models that the company actually sells and makes money on — like the aforementioned Accord — won't see expected refreshes anytime soon.

There's this little thing called opportunity cost, which is the value of the best alternative you give up when you choose one option over another. Honda bet big on EVs, but then changing market conditions forced the company to scale back those plans to the tune of billions of dollars worth of write-downs.

Worse, however, are the updated models that would have sold in volume that the company chose not to invest in.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: cars; ev; greenenergy; honda

[alternatives?]

I hope they improve them by removing the turbos.

[wjcsux]

It’s such a shame that Honda bought into this EV crap on such a large scale. I’ve owned numerous Honda products through the years and have found them to be excellent. Meanwhile, Toyota, who didn’t drink the EV cool-aid is doing extremely well.

[Red Badger]

This is great news! If you buy one of those models then you know that there will be parts for a looong time.............

[GMMC0987]

Can you really call it a “failed bet” when they were just complying with government mandates?

[Uncle Miltie]

Dan Neil of the WSJ has been singing the praises of electric vehicles for at least 5 years now.

I lay this additional $15,000,000,000 loss directly at his feet.

In addition to the tens of billions of other writedowns the auto industry has taken on this boondoggle.

[Uncle Miltie]

EV-related write-down / impairment loss
Stellantis ~$26.5 billion
Ford Motor ~$19.5 billion
General Motors (GM) ~$7.6 billion
Additional widely reported EV-business losses (not always classified strictly as write-downs/impairments):
Auto company EV business losses
Ford Model e division ~$4.8 billion operating loss in 2025
GM EV restructuring/impairment charges ~$6.0 billion announced separately in 2026

[Dr. Sivana]

I dislike Hondas, but cars that last a long time without a redesign is a boon for those who want to keep their cars running indefinitely. More parts. I am sure it is not hard to get most parts for a Volvo 240, a Volkswagen Beetle, or a Dodge Diplomat.

[FreedomPoster]

>>EV-related write-down / impairment loss
>>Ford Motor ~$19.5 billion

Ford built a HUGE vehicle battery plant in Glendale, KY that they’re doing nothing with now. Government insanity reminiscent of Soviet central planning .

[Miami Rebel]

Global EV sales reached approximately 20.7 million units in 2025, a 20% increase over 2024, with over 20% of new cars sold worldwide being electric.

The gloating over the demise of EVs has been going on for years in the face of evidence to the contrary.

[Cronos]

Hybrids have proven more popular for many buyers seeking efficiency. Extending lifecycles can also be a smart short-term cash-flow move—maximizing returns on existing tooling while buying time for better hybrid tech. Honda sounds confident in hybrids.

Honda is leaning on its hybrid strengths, which could mitigate long-term damage.

[Cronos]

Yes, but volumes for ev sales are driven overwhelmingly by China (~12.9 million, ~60%+ of global total, with NEVs often >50% domestic share).

The segment us maturing from its prior 25% to 30% growth and may reduce to onky 15% growth in a few years. Yes, I know “15%” is still pretty darn good ;) but that means it won’t be a whole sale replacement but more of a diversified market with EVs, hybrids, diesels, petrols and possibly others all having different areas where they do well.

I see small EVs dominating in cities with poor public transport (nit Tokyo which gas excellent public transport and no space for garages), but useless in rural areas.

EVs now represent a real portion of sales and are displacing oil use measurably.

This means more oil can be used for petroleum based products like plastics etc.

And it means that Saudi Arabia will no longer have the money surplus to sponsor global Wahabbi schools, madrassa, mosques and terrorist groups

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

changing market conditions

Otherwise known as no more government subsidies - taxpayer $$$

Each time we passed an EV while driving, I used to point out to family and friends that we all helped pay for that car. Eventually, they asked me to stop pointing them out. Since the subsidies ended, I now point out the EVs and remind people that they no longer take our money for the EVs. They are much happier with this news.

[clintonh8r]

I read his column mostly for laughs.

[HIDEK6]

Humor was buried with Victor Borge.

[Bernard]

Sadly, all of those tens of billions of other writedowns means decreased income tax revenues to both the federal government and various states. Not to mention the human cost of lost jobs at the carmaker plants, plus the loss of jobs at businesses that would support the lifestyles of the auto workers.

It's kind of like Spirit Airlines with a larger dollar impact.

[brooklin]

Hybrids just make sense given the large areas of this country that aren’t urban. In most parts of Maine, an ev just is a bad idea.

[Cronos]

brooklin Hybrids just make sense given the large areas of this country that aren’t urban

Yes, that's correct

The article is about Honda. Their sales distribution is:

• >North America: 51.23% of total revenue.
• >Asia excluding Japan: 21.02% of total revenue.
• >Japan: 9.59% of total revenue.
• >Europe: 4.62% of total revenue.

For North America, their big sales were in the Honda CRV, civic and Accord

for Asia xcl Japan it is also the CRV and Accord

but for JAPAN, it is just completely different:

the Honda n box

the honda Freed

In Europe it is the honda Jazz and their SUVs

None of the Japanese models would work at all in the USA, so they don't even sell them (afaik) A good global player will think of different things for different markets.

[TalBlack]

“Honda bet big on EVs,“

They weren’t betting. They thought government was shoving them down our throat. Wrong.

[Jacquerie]

We owned 2000 and 2013 Honda Accords.

Loved ‘em.

Went to trade the 2013 for a 2023 Accord and had to walk away.

Sad.