I met the next-gen Honda Miimo robotic mowers – they even use the reversing sensor from a street automobile!

Honda shocked actually no one with its announcement that the subsequent era of its Miimo robotic mowers received’t want a fringe wire. Extra stunning was the opposite tech, taken from its vehicles, in its upcoming fashions.

I used to be on the Frankfurt launch to see the subsequent two Miimos, study Honda’s technique and get a sneak preview of different future fashions.

4 new robotic mowers

Miimo 1500i and Miimo 2200i will go on sale in spring 2026. They’re pictured bottom-left and backside proper, respectively. The highest two mowers are the Miimo Giant and AWD, slated for late 2026 on the earliest. All 4 are cordless robotic mowers.

Miimo Giant has the stamina for greater lawns, whereas the AWD (all wheel drive) tackles steeper slopes and bumpier floor. Honda’s present, wired Miimo vary contains robotic mowers that carried out nicely on giant lawns once I examined them.

The 1500i (pictured bottom-left) solely has a bump sensor for detecting obstacles however the different three mowers additionally boast ultrasonic sensors, trickle-down tech from Honda’s motoring arm.

The ultrasonic sensor is a know-how taken from the reversing sensor in a Honda automobile. The sensor alerts Miimo to an object preventatively, with out bumping it. This will solely be excellent news for pets, wildlife and something you forgot you left on the garden.

The brand new robotic mowers haven’t any antennae, no SIM playing cards and no charges. They simply use satellite tv for pc alerts to map the garden.

The app, with a brand new consumer interface for 2026, lets customers train Miimo the place to mow. Future fashions might even allow you to map out your garden on display screen within the showroom, so the mower arrives prepared for responsibility.

Automotive showroom vibes

Once more, the showroom felt related to the remainder of Honda’s enterprise. The dealership gross sales shows I noticed jogged my memory of a automobile showroom.

Costs have but to be introduced, however Honda stated it’s not aiming for the underside of the market, which is dominated by low-cost Chinese language robotic mowers.

Honda has offered 170,000 Miimos worldwide, most of them in Europe. Like different Miimos, these new fashions will probably be assembled in France. Honda says constructing them close to clients makes for environment friendly, fast manufacturing.

And also you received’t discover them on the market in your native DIY superstore. Like their wired predecessors, these Miimos will probably be offered completely by sellers and boast five-year ensures.

Robotic overlords

Honda introduced the brand new fashions on the Honda Akademie in Frankfurt, the place its European sellers go to coach in every thing from servicing to gross sales. It takes in Honda’s motor, bike, marine divisions and extra.

I used to be reminded of Honda’s heritage, with displays together with a sixties convertible automobile, in addition to demos hinting on the firm’s future. A humanoid robotic may deal with even delicate duties and perceive variety of pure voice instructions.

However what actually obtained my consideration was the enormous crimson kill change on the ground. I predict development within the big kill change market as we cautiously prepare our future overlords.

Apparently for a corporation with a protracted heritage in motoring, Honda is pleased with its aim to be carbon impartial by 2050, for all merchandise and company actions. It has already halved emissions.

Product electrification, transferring away from fossil fuels, is vital. So you may count on know-how to trickle between divisions in all instructions: its vary already contains electrical vehicles and bikes, however batteries and environment friendly motors will develop into central to all issues Honda.

Zero fatalities

I used to be additionally impressed to listen to that Honda’s 2050 targets embrace zero fatalities involving Honda autos. Not fewer, zero. So whereas I see Honda focussing on autonomous and clever vehicles, there needs to be no ‘transfer quick and break issues’ recklessness to the innovation.

Again to robotic mowers, I used to be impressed with the brand new tech. My essential grumble isn’t worth or specs, it’s color. Why aren’t they inexperienced? I spent years telling the makers of ceiling-mounted projectors that they need to be white, not black. They listened finally. Mowers that stay completely in our borders needs to be inexperienced. Wi-fi, clever, secure, self-taught and carbon impartial, sure, but in addition inexperienced.