The world premiere of the prototype of Honda 0 α, new SUV model for the Honda 0 Series
Innovative EV Unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025
―― Amidst Honda’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across all products and corporate activities by 2050, the Honda 0 Series returns to the fundamentals of car-making, challenging development with original ideas from scratch. Under the development approach “Thin, Light, and Wise,” this new EV series overturns the conventional image of being thick and heavy.
At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, held from October 29 to November 9 (Public opening date: October 31 to November 9), Honda will unveil the prototype of Honda 0 α, new SUV model for the Honda 0 Series, for the first time in the world.
―― The goal was to create a vehicle that fits both first-time EV buyers and those prioritizing a smart lifestyle. The model name “α” embodies “first” and “beginning” – reflecting Honda’s aspiration to be accessible to many people.
Taku Fukui, Exterior Design Project Leader, and designer Park Sungjin discuss developing the Honda 0 α, set for global launch starting in 2027, primarily in Japan and India.
Compact, yet energetic
―― The Honda 0 α targets first-time EV buyers. This includes younger generations who are first time purchasers. To satisfy this vibrant demographic poised to shape the future, the team shared the ambitions: “Simply being compact is not exciting enough” and “wanting to exceed user expectations.”
―― To kickstart the design process, Fukui first headed to India, one of the target markets. “We couldn’t base the design of a global model solely on Japanese values.” He conducted local research to gain a deeper understanding of India’s rapidly growing cities and the people living there.
In India, economic growth has led to an explosive increase in vehicles. However, public transportation and road infrastructure development have not kept pace, and the less-than-ideal road conditions are a significant concern. Amidst the dense traffic of cars and motorcycles, the team considered that a size visually conveying a sense of security was crucial for the driver. As a result, the team explored adding a tough and strong character to the Honda 0 α design without compromising the refined design identity of the Honda 0 series.
Fukui
India’s cities are vibrant, with colorful cars on the streets and people dressed in vivid attire. I sensed a sparkle in the eyes and a positive aura among the local youth, as if they truly believed tomorrow would be better than today. The starting point for the design was to directly channel that energy and belief in the future, felt in India, into the Honda 0 α.
Exterior design without compromising even a few millimeters
Presenting minimalist impact
in a market that favors ornamentation
―― After bringing these crucial insights back to Japan, development of the Honda 0 α began with the deliberate direction of presenting it through the aesthetics of subtraction. The aim was to offer minimal, refined beauty, delivering a fresh impact to the aesthetic standards of a market that favors ornamentation.
From the initial concept sketches, Park consciously aimed for a coexistence of subtraction and condensation, striving for an exterior that was easy to handle yet possessed solid strength. Park’s concept sketches emphasized strength through minimal character lines, taut surfaces, and a sense of mass, even while keeping the overall length restrained within the Honda 0 series. Having this vision from the start allowed the entire design team to share a common goal.
Park
To express youthful energy and SUV strength, we paid particular attention to the rear fender design. During development, when we were struggling to match the sketch’s vision, Fukui advised, “Why not add more volume to the rear fenders?” After trial and error and consulting with the design team, we ultimately achieved the desired appeal by widening the tread.
Fukui
We also paid close attention to adjusting the surface quality and highlights specific to the Honda 0 Series on the exterior sides. The Honda 0 α has a shorter overall length within the Honda 0 Series, so creating surfaces with the same approach would not produce the desired highlights. We therefore shifted the points where highlights appear forward and further utilized the rear fenders to move the surfaces in a wider direction. This creates the dynamic surface movement characteristic of the Honda 0 Series.
Surface texture and handcrafting: The fusion of digital and clay modeling
――As indicated by the “Wise” in “Thin, Light, and Wise,” the Honda 0 Series also focuses on intelligent technologies. While the vehicle will incorporate advanced technology, the design process progressed using both digital and analog approaches. Honda recognizes the effectiveness of digital tools but also values physical judgment – the process of translating designs into three-dimensional forms by hand.
In a workshop where adjustments of mere millimeters can alter the entire impression, collaboration between design and engineering professionals is key to creating high-quality design. This Honda 0 α is one model that symbolizes that approach.
Park
The surfaces and lines of the Honda 0 α are intricately intertwined. Differences of just a few millimeters significantly impact the body’s volume, so the team redrew the lines on reworked surfaces repeatedly, day and night. The subtle highlights and rhythmic lines sketched in the concept drawings possess a texture that digital tools alone cannot replicate.
Park
Today’s advanced digital tools allow us to create forms without clay. However, this car was refined through repeated fine-tuning, leveraging both the expressive power expanded by digital and the delicate craftsmanship inherent in analog, hand-built work. It was challenging, but ultimately, I believe we successfully expressed the power of a mass radiating outward from its core, just as intended. From both a design and practical standpoint, I expect the Honda 0 α to play a role in conveying Honda’s value proposition to many people.
―― The Honda 0 α exhibited at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 features a design that accentuates condensed power and minimal, refined beauty.
The prototype was created through the fusion of fresh sensibilities of young designers and the expertise of experienced members, with the entire team striving for a high level of completion. Design and engineering domains collaborated closely, faithfully translating the nuances of sketches into three-dimensional form. The moment the shape materialized exactly as intended, a profound sense of accomplishment spread throughout the entire team.
―― The Honda 0 α is a vehicle Honda wants many people to experience, embodying the creativity realized through the fusion of digital and analog techniques. At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, it will be exhibited as a model symbolizing future mobility. The Honda booth is designed as a space embodying the company’s people-centric philosophy and vision for the future, allowing visitors to experience the meticulous attention to detail that photos and videos alone cannot convey. Honda hopes visitors will enjoy the Honda booth.
Profiles
Taku Fukui
Automobile
Product Designer
Park Sungjin
Automobile
Product Designer
