Honda’s canceled 0 SUV electric vehicle has resurfaced in newly granted U.S. design patent drawings, revealing a design that closely resembles the model originally planned to compete with the Tesla Model Y. Although the SUV was dropped from Honda’s North American EV plans, the patent preserves several distinctive styling elements from the original prototype.
The patent does not confirm that the electric SUV will enter production, but its appearance comes as Honda shifts its North American strategy toward hybrid vehicles following the cancellation of three planned EVs.
Honda 0 SUV Appears in New Patent Drawings
The patent includes multiple drawings showing a vehicle that appears to be the Honda 0 SUV prototype from different angles. The concept was unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, alongside the 0 Saloon prototype.
Both vehicles were later canceled, along with the Acura RSX, completing the trio of electric vehicles that will not reach production.
The 0 SUV was originally intended to compete with the Tesla Model Y. Honda has also discontinued the Prologue, its first mass-market electric vehicle in North America, after just over two years on the market.
Patent Design Matches the Original 0 SUV Prototype
Several details in the patent drawings appear consistent with the original 0 SUV prototype, particularly its side profile and rear quarter window positioned between the C- and D-pillars.
That window design is absent from the smaller 0 Alpha, the entry-level model in Honda’s 0 Series lineup. The 0 Alpha instead features rear door handles integrated into the C-pillars, similar to the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR, creating a coupe-like appearance.
The patent drawings show conventionally positioned door handles, matching the original 0 SUV prototype.
The pixel-like headlights also appear to carry over, along with a front bumper featuring a prominent horizontal black trim piece and a sportier design than the one used on the 0 Alpha.
Could the Patent Belong to the Honda 0 Alpha?
Despite the similarities to the canceled SUV, the patent drawings could also represent the 0 Alpha. Both prototypes share a boxy body, sloping roofline and pronounced wheel arches.
The distinction matters because Honda has not canceled the 0 Alpha, which is primarily intended for the Japanese and Indian markets.
However, the comparisons are based solely on visual details, and the patent does not confirm the identity of the vehicle or indicate that it will be produced.
Honda Shifts North American Focus Toward Hybrids
Automakers frequently patent vehicle designs to protect their styling from competitors or preserve them for possible future use. The patent’s appearance therefore does not necessarily mean Honda is reconsidering the canceled electric SUV.
Honda’s North American strategy is now shifting toward hybrids, including the next-generation CR-V Hybrid, whose production was reportedly delayed by about three months to April 2027.
The automaker plans to introduce 15 next-generation hybrid models globally by 2030, with North America serving as the primary target market.
For now, the newly granted patent offers a look at a design associated with Honda’s canceled EV program, while the company’s confirmed direction increasingly centers on hybrid vehicles.
