With its new logo design, Honda has joined the race of car manufacturers, shifting their focus from conventional petrol-diesel vehicles to new electric ones. Some major global vehicle manufacturers have sensed the shift and are going wholeheartedly electric. Honda is one such global giant that has recently announced launching its electric vehicles.
When companies add new products or services to their businesses, they often refresh or redesign their logos. This is because a logo is always the most seen visual of any brand. So, when people encounter a logo, they get a clue of what the business is all about or what new it is about to offer.
This is also true for the new changes the global brand Honda made to its logo recently. The company has plans to foray into the growing electronic vehicles market in a big way. So, it tweaked its old logo to align it with its new brand message.
Honda entering the EV segment.
The world’s leading automobile manufacturer, Honda, plans to foray into the electric vehicle segment with full might. The company will line up its elective vehicle in 2026. Honda will start its Honda 0 Series of vehicles globally from North America and then to Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
Honda presented its Honda 0 Series of electric vehicles concept models called Saloon and Space-Hub in a recently concluded CES 2024 at Las Vegas. The new Honda emblem was also released at the venue to symbolize the company’s commitment to EVs, which are seen as the next-generation vehicles.
The new ‘H’ Honda badge logo appears retro and futuristic at the same time. It is now identifying its new EV business. However, it is not sure if the Japanese automaker company’s new ‘’H’’ logo will debut with its EVs of the 0 Series or not.
What does ‘H’ means in the new Honda logo?
The letter ‘H’ represents the company name and the name of its founder, Soichiro Honda. That is why the company never fully replaced the letter. It now symbolizes the company’s values and message in the global market.
The old ‘H’ letter remains part of the emblem. But subtle changes in the letter’s design now help it stand out from many other electric car emblems.
What new design changes were made to the logo?
While the company returned its old retro ‘H’ logo this time, some crucial changes were also made. The new design changes in the Honda new logo convey Honda’s ambition to enter the electric vehicle market and send the right signals to the customers.
Here are the noticeable changes made to the conventional ‘H’ logo.
A flatter ‘H’ design
The previous custom logo design had a stylized shape of the H for the company’s regular vehicle business. But now the electric vehicle business has a new logo with the old ‘H’ letter brought back.
Previously, the H logo had a skeuomorphic metallic look. But the new H design is a flatter and simpler version of the earlier symbol. It also looks impressive as a Honda emblem light up at the vehicle’s rear end against the lighted background.
The logo now looks much more sophisticated due to its minimalist design. It does not require the support of any other element to look impressive. That is a minimalist logo’s key characteristic, such as a Volvo emblem.
No boundary lines.
Another noticeable change in the logo design is regarding the boundary line. The earlier H mark had a tight border surrounding it. Now, the new H design has sharper upper prongs stretching outward. So, they give the impression of a pair of ‘outstretched hands.’
The new logo conveys freedom from pollution by freeing the symbol from the boundary lines. It also symbolizes the ease and joy of driving an electric vehicle.
The letter shape changed a bit.
The ‘H’ shape looks narrower at the bottom and broader at the top, giving it a unique shape. This formed a distinctive wedge shape. But the broader look at the top also shapes it up as a gesture of someone raising arms towards the sky. The Honda emblem can symbolize the help or solution the company provides to its customers through modern vehicles.
This shape of the ‘H’ also reflects the company’s official slogan, ‘’The Power of Dreams – How we move you.” The slogan expresses people’s desire to own new technology vehicles, such as the Honda electric vehicles today.
The newly designed ‘H’ Honda symbol also expresses the company’s intention to make EVs that evoke drivers’ joy. The company wants the driver to enjoy being one with the vehicle. The ‘H’ letter has been designed to express that joy with the upper prongs widened outwardly. That resembles a person widely extending hands to the sky in joy.
The company has explained the new H symbol shape, saying, ‘’this design expression, like two outstretched hands, represents Honda’s commitment to augment the possibilities of mobility and sincerely serve the needs of the users of Honda EVs.’’
So, these are the few changes Honda made to its old ‘H’ logo to make it suitable for representing its electric vehicle business. You can notice that the changes are subtle. The company’s logo can still be identified by people quickly as they have seen it many times before.
If you, too, are looking to tweak your existing business logo, do that strategically. Make sure that the new logo reflects your new target customers and their ambitions. If you are not sure, then let Designhill handle the job. This leading creative marketplace has hundreds of talented designers who will create your logo per your design brief. You can also work with a designer one-on-one to customize the logo. But before you do so, read the guide on logo redesign vs. logo refresh to know the subtle difference between the two.
Wrapping Up
Honda recently unveiled a new logo for its electric vehicle segment. The company wants to launch its electric vehicle models in two years. Honda came up with a slightly changed version of its iconic ‘H’ logo to reflect its ambitions. This time, it appears as a flatter design with the upper side of the H shape a bit wider. The logo conveys the joy of driving a pollution-free electric vehicle.
