Honda is unveiling two new “0 Series” electric vehicles that will be produced in Ohio

LAS VEGAS — Honda engines on Tuesday at the CES technology conference, the company's newest electric vehicles, which will be produced at a multibillion-dollar manufacturing complex in central Ohio, were unveiled.

Vehicles include Honda 0 Saloon which is updated version of the concept car unveiled last year at CES and the Honda 0 SUV. Both “0 Series” vehicles are prototypes, meaning they are intended for customer production but are still subject to some changes.

Honda stated that these are expected to be production models based on both prototypes launch in North America in 2026, starting with an SUV and then a sedan. The automaker declined to reveal specific details about the new electric vehicles, such as expected price, range and performance.

The vehicles' exterior appearance is distinctly different from current Honda models and features a sleek, forward-looking design. Honda says the new 0 Series vehicles are being developed with three core principles in mind: “Thin, Light and Smart.”

Lance Woelfer, vice president of auto sales for Honda Motor in the Americas, said the automaker has gathered feedback on the vehicles it unveiled last year for new models.

“That's why we're doing this: it gives us an opportunity to get input and feedback from the community,” he told CNBC. “It gave us extra confidence.”

Honda on Tuesday also announced a new operating system for Honda 0 Series vehicles called “Asimo OS,” which the company says will offer highly automated driving technologies such as hands-free driving.

The name Asimo refers to Honda a humanoid robot that is a car manufacturer first presented over 20 years ago at CES.

Honda plans to install Asimo OS on all Honda 0 Series models, including the production Honda 0 SUV and Honda 0 sedan models.

It is not clear how announced merger plans between Honda and another Japanese carmaker Nissan engine may impact any of the company's product plans.

Honda's 0-series electric cars were presented a day after the company's premiere cooperation with Sonycalled Afeela presented its first EV model. The car, called AFEELA 1, is expected to go on sale in California this year, with deliveries taking place in 2026.

California is the nation's largest electric vehicle market, where automakers routinely bring such models to market first to help sales and meet the state's stringent fuel economy and emissions standards.

The company said the AFEELA 1 sedan will be available in two trim levels, with prices starting at $89,900.