Honda's first EV for the ASEAN region is coming out earlier than expected.

After driving it at the Tochigi Proving Grounds in Japan a few months ago, Honda has now started producing the e:N1 EV crossover at the Prachinburi factory in Thailand. This makes Honda the first major Japanese manufacturer to build EVs at the Land of Smiles.

The Honda e:N1 is basically the HR-V made pure electric. It's built on Honda's front-wheel-drive e:N Architecture F EV platform that houses a three-in-one integrated powertrain (power drive, motor, gearbox). The single motor setup produces 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque, which is practically more than what the 1.5 VTEC Turbo in the HR-V could put out.

In our short drive with the e:N1 crossover, we found out that it still behaves very much like a Honda when it comes to handling and ease of use. So in terms of familiarity, the e:N1 should fit in well with the rest of Honda's ICE and e:HEV lineup.

Other details of the ASEAN e:N1 crossover are yet to be revealed by Honda, but we won't have to wait that long to find out more about the new EV. Honda said we should expect them to launch the e:N1 crossover in the first quarter of 2024.