Honda Ridgeline pickup to get U.S.-built successor after production pause

Honda confirmed Thursday that the Honda Ridgeline pickup will get a next-generation model built in the United States, ending uncertainty around the midsize truck’s future. The company said production of the current Ridgeline will stop temporarily later this year at its Alabama plant, with assembly expected to resume there within two years, likely in 2028.

The announcement comes as Honda’s U.S. business gets a lift from the CR-V compact crossover. Honda said the CR-V led U.S. vehicle sales through the first half of the year for the first time, with sales up about 6% from a year earlier.

The Ridgeline had faced questions after reports that a pause could be tied to the vehicle not meeting California emissions rules. Honda confirmed a temporary halt but said the nameplate will return with a redesigned model for the U.S. market.

When will the new Honda Ridgeline pickup be built?

Honda said the next Ridgeline will be assembled at the same Alabama facility that builds the current truck, after a production interruption beginning later this year. The company indicated production would return within two years, pointing to a likely 2028 timing.

Lance Woelfer, vice president of auto sales at American Honda Motor, told CNBC that Honda wants to keep serving Ridgeline buyers while adding more toughness and capability to the next version.

Woelfer did not say whether Honda will change the truck’s underlying construction. The Ridgeline has been known for a smoother, more car-like drive than many pickups, while most U.S. trucks use body-on-frame construction, in which a separate frame carries the vehicle body and major mechanical components.

A shift toward a more rugged design could broaden the Ridgeline’s appeal, though Honda has not detailed the engineering changes. Woelfer told CNBC that the model’s past attributes have been part of its history, but he declined to say which will carry into the next generation.

How the Ridgeline compares with other midsize pickups

Ridgeline sales fell about 3% in the first half of the year, according to Honda figures cited by CNBC. Since 2021, annual U.S. sales of the truck have ranged from roughly 41,000 to 52,000 units.

That volume remains well below the leading midsize pickup. Toyota sold more than 270,000 Tacoma trucks in 2025, according to CNBC, underscoring the scale gap Honda faces if it seeks a larger share of the segment.

Honda’s broader U.S. sales story has been stronger in crossovers. The CR-V’s first-half gain came as two recent sales leaders, Ford’s F-Series pickups and Toyota’s RAV4 crossover, were affected by production bottlenecks, according to CNBC.

The CR-V result gives Honda a prominent position in a market where compact crossovers and pickups are central to manufacturer profitability and dealer traffic. For the Ridgeline, the confirmed successor keeps Honda in the midsize pickup category, even as the temporary stoppage leaves a gap before the redesigned truck reaches production.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.