Nissan and Honda to explore partnership for electrified, intelligent mobility
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., have embarked on a journey to explore a strategic partnership focused on vehicle electrification and intelligence. The announcement, made on March 18, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan, marks the beginning of a feasibility study under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two Japanese automakers.
This collaboration aims to address the urgent need for carbon neutrality and the elimination of traffic-accident fatalities by leveraging advancements in environmental technologies, electrification, and software development. Both companies recognise the importance of pooling their strengths and expertise to investigate potential collaborative opportunities that could lead to groundbreaking developments in the automotive sector.
The feasibility study will cover a range of areas, including automotive software platforms, core components for electric vehicles (EVs), and complementary products, indicating a comprehensive approach to redefining mobility.
Makoto Uchida, president and CEO of Nissan, emphasized the significance of adapting to the rapidly evolving mobility landscape and the potential benefits of this partnership. “It is important to prepare for the increasing pace of transformation in mobility in the mid-to-long-term, and it is significant that we have reached this agreement based on a mutual understanding that Honda and Nissan face common challenges,” Uchida said.
Echoing this sentiment, Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s director, president, and representative executive officer, highlighted the transformative period the automotive industry is currently undergoing. “In this period of once-in-a-century transformation in the automotive industry, we will examine the potential for partnership between Nissan and Honda. Our study criteria will be whether the synergy of the technologies and knowledge that our companies have cultivated will enable us to become industry leaders by creating new value for the automotive industry,” Mibe said.
This exploratory phase represents a pivotal moment for both Nissan and Honda as they seek to lead the industry towards a future characterised by electrified and intelligent mobility solutions.
Prior to this announcement, Honda has had a notable partnership with U.S. automaker General Motors (GM). This collaboration has been focused on various aspects, including the development of electric vehicles and the sharing of EV technology. Additionally, Honda and GM have worked together on fuel cell technology and autonomous vehicles.
Meanwhile, Nissan has an existing alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors. This partnership, often referred to as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, focuses on collaboration in various areas including electric vehicles (EVs), primarily through shared technology and production costs.
Honda and Nissan are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in terms of global sales among automakers in 2023, while Toyota Motor Corp. was ranked number one.
