Dongfeng Honda Introduces New Electric Vehicle Brand Lingxi, with First Model Launching in 2024

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Dongfeng Honda, a collaboration between Honda of Japan and China’s Dongfeng Motor, has introduced Lingxi, a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand in China, targeting the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market. The Lingxi brand, primarily aimed at younger consumers, will be priced separately from Honda’s all-electric e:NS range.

Dongfeng Honda Introduces New Electric Vehicle Brand Lingxi, with First Model Launching in 2024 - Car News - 1

The Lingxi brand was unveiled at an event along with a concept car, the Lingxi L. The models under this brand will be based on a new all-electric platform. The production version of the Lingxi L, a sedan, is set to go on sale next year.

The first model under the new brand is being developed by a young R&D team and is designed specifically for young people. The company’s vice president, Pan Jianxin, stated that the Lingxi brand is a proactive exploration by Dongfeng Honda in the new joint venture era.

By 2025, over 50 percent of Dongfeng Honda’s products will be electrified, with more than 10 all-electric models expected to be launched by 2030. In line with the launch of this new brand, Dongfeng Honda announced channel reforms to facilitate the transition to electrification.

Dongfeng Honda’s new franchise stores have been redesigned and will transition from sales centers to brand experience centers. Honda had previously unveiled its all-electric brand, e:N, at a launch event for the company’s electrification efforts in China on October 13, 2021.

Two production models under the e:N brand – Dongfeng Honda’s e:NS1 and GAC Honda’s e:NP1 – were introduced at that time. However, sales of the e:NS1 model in China have been slow, with monthly sales of less than 200 units in April-June and 611 units in August.

In August, Honda China sold 102,257 vehicles, an increase of 14.01 percent from July but a decrease of 25.10 percent year-on-year. From January to August, Honda China sold 721,657 vehicles, down 23.98 percent year-on-year.