Next-Generation Honda Ridgeline Confirmed for U.S. Production Within Two Years

Honda Motor confirmed that a third-generation Ridgeline midsize pickup will be built in the United States after a planned production stoppage later this year. The new model is slated to arrive “within two years,” with assembly returning to the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Design work is being carried out at Honda’s Southern California styling studio in Torrance, while mechanical engineering is handled at the Honda Auto Development Center in Raymond, Ohio.

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The Ridgeline has never been a major profit driver for Honda, selling 48,448 units in the United States last year. By contrast, Toyota moved 274,638 Tacomas and Chevrolet 107,074 Colorados in the same period. Despite modest volumes, the Ridgeline serves as a “conquest” vehicle, introducing traditional truck buyers to Honda’s broader lineup. The current second-generation model has been in production for a decade and is built on the last-generation Passport platform, retaining an unibody construction that differentiates it from most body-on-frame pickups.

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• Later 2026 – Honda announces a pause in production of the current Ridgeline to prepare for the next generation.

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• Within two years (target 2028) – The third-generation Ridgeline is expected to go on sale in the United States.

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• U.S. sales (last year): 48,448 Ridgelines vs. 274,638 Toyota Tacomas and 107,074 Chevrolet Colorados.

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• Manufacturing footprint: Design in California, engineering in Ohio, final assembly in Alabama – continuing the model’s status as one of the most American-made Honda vehicles.

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• Potential powertrain: Sources suggest a hybrid V-6 could replace the existing 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6, possibly delivering up to three electric motors, a 10 % acceleration boost, and a 30 % fuel-economy improvement.

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Honda’s vice president of auto sales, Lance Woelfer, emphasized the company’s commitment to existing customers and the goal of a more rugged design. He declined to confirm whether the new Ridgeline will shift from its current unibody architecture to a traditional body-on-frame construction.

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• “The goal is to continue to serve those customers who've been loyal to the Ridgeline,” — Lance Woelfer, vice president of auto sales at American Honda Motor

CNBC

• “The award-winning Honda Ridgeline has introduced innovative new technologies and features to America's truck market for two decades, prioritizing features and capabilities recreational truck buyers need and use the most,” — Lance Woelfer, vice president of auto sales at American Honda Motor

The Next Honda Ridgeline Is On The Way. Here’s What Honda Tells Us To Expect

• Reason for the production pause: Automotive News reported that the pause may be linked to the 3.5-liter V-6’s inability to meet upcoming California emissions standards, but Honda has not confirmed this explanation.

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• Powertrain details: While multiple outlets speculate that a hybrid V-6 will power the new truck, Honda has provided no official confirmation, leaving the exact powertrain configuration uncertain.

MotorTrend

Honda indicated that assembly of the next-generation Ridgeline will resume at the Alabama plant within the two-year window, positioning the launch for the 2028 model year. No specific unveiling event has been announced.

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