The Honda Prologue, a stylish crossover designed in Los Angeles, masks a complex automotive partnership. Built upon GM’s BEV3 platform, shared with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the Prologue represents Honda’s strategic move to accelerate its electric vehicle offerings. This collaboration, however, has raised questions about quality and manufacturing transparency.
Produced by GM in Mexico rather than Honda’s traditional US facilities, the Prologue inherits potential concerns associated with its parent company’s reputation. Recent events have further underscored these complexities. A recall affecting both the Prologue and Blazer EV due to a defective right front lower control arm traced to a Chinese supplier contracted by GM, highlights the intricate supply chain and potential vulnerabilities inherent in such partnerships.
While no incidents related to this specific issue have been reported, the recall serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and risks associated with rapidly expanding electric vehicle production, especially when relying on external components and manufacturing processes.
A recall encompassing 83 Chevrolet Blazer EVs and 39 Honda Prologues was issued in late June 2024. The shared culprit is a potentially defective right front lower control arm, sourced from a third-party supplier. This component could fracture, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
Owners will be notified of the recall in September, with dealers tasked with inspecting and replacing the part as necessary at no cost to the customer. While the supplier claims to have rectified production and quality control issues in February, lingering concerns about the reliability of components sourced from China persist.
Despite sharing a platform, the two electric SUVs have seen divergent sales trajectories. Chevrolet has moved over 7,200 Blazer EVs in the US market during the first half of 2024, while Honda’s Prologue has struggled to find buyers, with only 1,535 units delivered.
Pricing for the Blazer EV LT starts at $48,800, while the Honda Prologue EX with front-wheel drive is slightly cheaper at $47,400. This recall underscores the challenges facing both automakers as they go through the complexities of the nascent electric vehicle market.
