Honda e:N1 now available for purchase in Thailand – priced at 1.2 Million Baht (RM157k)

A year after its debut at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS), the Honda e:N1 has finally gone on sale in Thailand. Previously available only through a leasing programme, Honda Thailand has now confirmed that the all-electric SUV can be purchased outright, with a price tag of 1.199 million baht (RM157,000). The announcement was made at this year’s BIMS, marking a significant shift in the model’s availability in the country.

When the e:N1 was first introduced in Thailand last year, it was not offered for direct sale. Instead, it was made available exclusively through 12 car rental providers, with leasing rates starting from 29,000 baht (RM3,800) per month. Now, Honda has expanded its offering, allowing customers to purchase the EV outright while still providing a comprehensive eight-year/160,000 km warrantycovering the battery and entire electric drive system.

While the general specifications remain unchanged, an interesting development has emerged regarding its manufacturing source. Honda Thailand has confirmed that retail units of the e:N1 will be fully imported (CBU) from China, built by Dongfeng Honda Automobile.

This is surprising because in December 2023, Honda had announced that local production had begun at its Rojana Industrial Park plant in Prachinburi, making the e:N1 the first Japanese battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be assembled in Thailand. However, it appears that leasing programme units are locally assembled (CKD), while retail units are sourced from China.

There could be multiple reasons for this move—cost-effectiveness of importing the vehicle, or production constraints at the Rojana plant, which may be prioritizing regional demand. The e:N1 is also set to arrive in Malaysia later this year, and it is currently offered on a subscription basis in Indonesia, where leasing starts at 22 million rupiah (RM5,890) per month for five years.

The e:N1 remains mechanically identical to the version introduced last year. It features a front-mounted three-in-one electric motor (integrating the motor, power drive unit, and gearbox), delivering 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 310 Nm of torque to the front wheels. Performance figures include:

• 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds

• Top speed: 160 km/h

The vehicle is powered by a 96-cell 68.8 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery, providing:

• 412 km (WLTP-rated range)

• 500 km (NEDC standard)

Charging capabilities include:

• DC CCS2 fast charging (78 kW): 10-80% in 45 minutes

• 11 kW AC charging: Full charge in six hours

Exterior Highlights

• 18-inch two-tone multi-spoke alloy wheels

• Auto on/off LED headlights with LED DRLs

• Front fog lamps and sequential turn signals

• Smoked LED tail light strip, rear spoiler, shark fin antenna

• New colour option: Crystal Black Pearl (joining Premium Sunlight White Pearl)

The cabin is equipped with:

• Black sports-design leather seats with white trim and blue stitching

• 15.1-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

• 10.25-inch TFT multi-information display

• Electronic parking brake, redesigned centre console, simple shift knob layout

With Thailand now offering the e:N1 for direct purchase, it raises the question of whether Malaysia will follow the same path when it arrives later this year. The Thai price of RM157,000 gives a rough idea of what to expect, but whether Honda Malaysia can position it below or close to the RM150k markremains to be seen.

More details, including its Malaysian pricing and whether we will receive the CKD or CBU version, will be revealed in due course. Stay tuned.