The Tech Comeback: ASIMO Is Back From The Dead... As An Operating System
Of all the things I expected to see at CES 2026, the resurrection of ASIMO was not on my bingo card. And yet, here we are. Honda, in a move that is equal parts nostalgic and slightly dystopian, has confirmed that the operating system powering its slick new "0 Series" EVs will be officially named ASIMO OS.
For those too young to remember, ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) was Honda’s spaceman-looking robot that spent two decades walking up stairs, shaking hands with world leaders, and occasionally falling over on live TV. He was adorable. He was a marvel of engineering. And in 2022, he was retired. But apparently, Honda couldn't let the little guy go completely.
The announcement came alongside the confirmation that the Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV—those wedge-shaped, sci-fi concepts we saw last year—are hitting North American production lines in 2026. These cars look like they drove straight off the set of Cyberpunk 2077. The "Saloon" is a low-slung, neon-lit wedge that defies the current trend of tall, bloaty crossovers. It follows Honda’s new design philosophy of "Thin, Light, and Wise."
"Thin" and "Light" are welcome changes in an era where electric Hummers weigh 9,000 pounds. Honda is using new mega-casting techniques and thinner battery packs to keep the center of gravity low and the weight manageable. But it’s the "Wise" part where ASIMO comes in.
The ASIMO OS isn’t just a fancy skin for Android Auto. Honda claims it utilizes the complex balance and spatial awareness algorithms developed for the walking robot to manage the car’s vehicle dynamics. We’re talking about next-level stability control, "posture control" (keeping the car flat during cornering and braking), and eventually, Level 3 autonomous driving. The idea is that the same code that kept a bipedal robot from face-planting will now keep your 4,000-pound EV glued to the road in a blizzard.
It’s a clever branding play. It takes a piece of Honda’s history that represents "friendly technology" and applies it to the often-scary world of AI and autonomy. It says, "Don't worry about the computer taking the wheel; it’s just ASIMO! You loved him!"
Beyond the name, the specs for the 0 Series are promising. We’re looking at 300+ miles of range, charging from 15% to 80% in about 10-15 minutes, and a steer-by-wire system that Honda promises will actually offer road feel (a bold claim, considering nobody else has really nailed that yet).
The first models will be built in Ohio, solidifying Honda’s commitment to the US market. Deliveries are slated to begin later this year for the Saloon, with the SUV following closely behind.
It’s refreshing to see Honda taking a swing. For a while, they seemed to be lagging in the EV race, relying on the GM-partnered Prologue as a stopgap. The 0 Series feels authentically Honda—weird, engineering-led, and slightly obsessed with robotics. If ASIMO OS can actually deliver a driving experience that feels as human and responsive as the robot was charming, they might just have a hit on their hands. Just, you know, maybe don't ask it to walk up any stairs.
