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All the EVs that were discontinued or killed off in the U.S. this year
The Honda Prologue has been officially discontinued, Honda confirmed to TechCrunch, removing the last fully electric model from the automaker's US line-up. Its exit reflects a wider retreat by carmakers from the American EV market this year, driven by the loss of the $7,500 federal tax credit, new tariffs, Chinese competition, and shifting consumer demand, even as EV sales grow elsewhere in the world.
According to Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive figures, 247,226 EVs were sold in the US in the second quarter of 2026, roughly 5.8% of the total market, still 20.5% down on the same period in 2025 despite quarter-on-quarter growth. Honda also scrapped its Acura RDX and Honda O-series sedan and SUV in March 2026, while its Sony joint venture Afeela abandoned two planned EVs the same month, blaming tariffs and Chinese rivals. TechCrunch says it will keep updating its running list of EVs pulled from, or leaving, the US market this year.
In short
- Honda Prologue discontinued, ending Honda's US all-electric line-up.
- US automakers are retreating from EVs amid tariffs and lost tax credits.
- Q2 2026 US EV sales down 20.5% year-on-year despite quarterly growth.
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The case for
The discontinuation of these vehicles reflects rational business decision-making in response to genuine market conditions. Manufacturers cannot sustain product lines that become uncompetitive following policy changes such as the loss of federal tax credits and the imposition of tariffs. With consumer demand shifting and Chinese manufacturers offering cheaper alternatives, these vehicles would have operated at losses, threatening company viability. The market response—redirecting investment toward profitable products—is economically sound and demonstrates that consumer preferences should ultimately drive production decisions.
The case against
The retreat from EV manufacturing represents a failure to maintain momentum toward essential climate objectives during the critical early phase of market development. Removing policy support through tax credits and tariffs sends destabilising signals and undermines the necessary transition from fossil fuels, meaning consumers will drive petrol and diesel vehicles for years longer with cascading climate consequences. Unlike ordinary consumer goods, this transition is essential to meeting climate goals and energy independence; temporary unprofitability during a necessary transition phase should not justify wholesale withdrawal when global EV adoption is accelerating elsewhere.
Explained simply
Several major car manufacturers are pulling electric vehicles from the American market this year, including Honda, which recently discontinued its Prologue model, and Sony's Afeela partnership, which cancelled planned EVs. This represents a significant shift from the broad industry push into electric vehicles that dominated recent years.
The pullback is driven by multiple factors affecting the US EV market specifically. The federal tax credit of $7,500 that made electric vehicles more affordable to buyers was removed, new tariffs on vehicle components have increased costs, and competition from Chinese manufacturers has intensified. Meanwhile, consumer demand for electric vehicles appears to have moderated from previous peaks.
This matters because the decisions manufacturers make in the US, a major global car market, can indicate broader industry trends. The pullback shows how policy decisions, trade tariffs, and international competition can shift corporate strategies in ways that affect consumers.