American Honda outlook for the 2026 U.S. auto business

American Honda presents its 2026 U.S. auto outlook, covering sales expectations, hybrid strategy, Acura updates and the Honda Base Station prototype. Learn more.

American Honda has outlined its U.S. automobile business outlook for 2026, combining a review of 2025 results with a clearer view of where the company intends to go next. The picture that emerges is one of measured growth, a continued emphasis on hybrid technology, and a cautious expansion beyond traditional vehicle segments.

In 2025, American Honda recorded sales of 1,430,577 vehicles, marking its strongest performance since 2021. The year-over-year increase of 0.5% may appear modest, but it came despite a challenging market environment and renewed supply constraints tied to semiconductor availability late in the year. Hybrid models played a decisive role in sustaining momentum, with the Honda CR-V surpassing 400,000 units for a second consecutive year and hybrids accounting for 54% of its sales mix.

Looking ahead to 2026, the company expects a more competitive U.S. market overall. Industry forecasts place SAAR in the high-15 million to low-16 million range, suggesting stability rather than a return to pre-pandemic highs. Against this backdrop, American Honda projects total sales of around 1.5 million vehicles, roughly a 4% increase year over year. Honda-branded vehicles are expected to remain the core volume driver, while Acura is targeting sales of approximately 135,000 units.

The product strategy for 2026 centers on balancing affordability with electrification. Honda plans to increase production of value-oriented trims of key models such as the CR-V, Civic, and Accord, alongside entry-level Acura offerings like the ADX and Integra. This approach reflects growing sensitivity to record-high average new-car prices across the industry.

For Acura, 2026 represents a transitional phase. The brand is preparing to launch the all-electric RSX in the second half of the year, its first EV to be produced at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio on flexible lines shared with gasoline and hybrid models. Updates are also planned for the Integra Type S and MDX. At the same time, production of the current-generation RDX, introduced in 2018, will be suspended as Acura prepares a next-generation model featuring its first application of a two-motor hybrid system.

Honda’s lineup will see targeted enhancements as well. The refreshed 2026 Pilot has already begun arriving at dealerships with a larger touchscreen, improved cabin refinement, and upgraded safety features. The S+ Shift system, first introduced on the Prelude, will be added to the Civic Hybrid later in the year, while the Civic Type R is set to receive exterior and interior updates.

Beyond vehicles, Honda also used the briefing to unveil a prototype of the Honda Base Station, a towable travel trailer developed by its U.S. R&D teams. Designed to fit in a residential garage and be towed by a wide range of vehicles, including EVs like the Prologue, the concept reflects Honda’s interest in the rapidly growing outdoor lifestyle segment and its willingness to explore new mobility-adjacent categories.

Together, these announcements suggest that American Honda is entering 2026 with cautious confidence, prioritizing hybrids, manufacturing flexibility, and selective innovation rather than committing to a single technological path.