The third-generation midsize pickup truck Honda Ridgeline will enter the American market within the next two years, and it will be produced at the same location as its predecessor — Honda's plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Production of the second-generation Ridgeline will end later this year.
Last month, our website published a comprehensive feature on the history of the Honda Ridgeline. Here, we'll briefly recap that the Ridgeline is a pickup truck designed specifically for America, featuring a unibody construction, a naturally aspirated V6 engine, and a fully independent suspension. The first-generation Ridgeline hit the market in 2005, while the current "second-generation" Ridgeline has been in production since 2016. Today, it's safe to say that the Ridgeline was ahead of its time: when it debuted, the market wasn't ready for a pickup with car-like roots and limited off-road capabilities (no low-range gearing), even though it surpassed many body-on-frame competitors in terms of practicality and interior space.
Honda Ridgeline's peak sales in the U.S. occurred in 2023, with 52,001 units sold. Last year, sales totaled 48,448 units. In the first half of this year, the Ridgeline sold 23,490 units in the U.S.
2026 will be the final year of production for the second-generation Ridgeline — as announced today by the press office of American Honda Motor. Thus, there will be approximately a one-year gap before the debut of the third-generation pickup. The exact launch date for the new Ridgeline has not yet been announced, but we believe the phrasing "within two years" means it won't go on sale until at least 2028. For now, we can take a look at the first teaser of the "third-generation" Ridgeline.
As can be seen, the new Ridgeline will be much more rugged and angular compared to the current, slightly rounded second-generation pickup. The unibody construction is likely to be retained, and the "third-generation" Ridgeline will share its platform with the upcoming fifth-generation Honda Pilot crossover. The current "second-generation" Ridgeline is built on the third-generation Honda Pilot platform.
Official information about the technical specifications of the new Honda Ridgeline is not yet available, but American media outlets (such as Car and Driver magazine) have previously reported, citing insiders, that the third-generation Ridgeline will feature a hybrid powertrain based on a new V6 engine — with more than enough power expected.
Unibody construction is no longer a death sentence for pickups in America — this is confirmed by the very strong sales of the compact Ford Maverick pickup, which is based on the C2 platform from the discontinued European Ford Focus. In the first six months of 2026, the Ford Maverick sold 81,711 units in the U.S., and for the entire year of 2025, 155,051 units were sold.
We should add that in May, Honda unveiled a new development strategy, placing its bets on hybrid models and naming the U.S. as a priority market. Honda's previous strategy, focused on electric vehicles, has failed spectacularly.
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