Industry sources say Honda is considering a change in its production plans for the next-generation CR-V compact SUV. According to a report from industry publication Automotive News, the automaker has pushed back production of its best-selling vehicle by three months. The reported delay for the model comes as the company looks to add more hybrid vehicles to its fleet to meet strong demand.
According to the report, production of the next-generation CR-V is now expected to start in April 2027, and according to Automotive News’ sources, Honda also plans to reduce its monthly volume for the SUV in its first year. The company’s new projections reportedly cut production by 6.7%, to 41,315 units in the first year.
A Honda spokesperson declined to confirm the report but told Automotive News that the automaker is prioritizing the current CR-V to keep pace with demand, saying, “Dealer inventory currently stands at approximately a 17-day supply, well below our ideal level.”
The publication also reports that the Civic will see changes in the near future. Honda reportedly plans to cancel production of the next-generation car at its Indiana plant to prioritize production of the more profitable CR-V there. That would leave the automaker’s Ontario, Canada, plant as the only supplier of Civic sedans for North America, and it will reportedly import hatchback variants from Japan after the change, which is expected to start in May 2028.
The next-generation CR-V’s redesign reportedly includes a move to hybrid-only powertrains, and the new SUV will ride on a new weight-cutting platform, according to Automotive News. Honda offers a hybrid version of the current CR-V, but a shift to an all-hybrid lineup would put the SUV more in line with its closest competitor, the Toyota RAV4, whose latest generation is only sold as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
