General Motors and Honda Motor today said they would expand their EV collaboration “to a new chapter” by jointly developing a series of “affordable” electric vehicles based on a new global architecture using new Ultium battery technology.
The companies were already working together on previously announced development and global production of “millions” of EVs starting in 2027, including compact crossover vehicles, sharing technology, design and sourcing strategy.
The pair said on Tuesday they would also work toward standardising equipment and processes “to achieve world-class quality, higher throughput and greater affordability”.
The compact crossover segment is the largest in the world, with annual volume of 13 million vehicles.
GM and Honda also would discuss future EV battery technology collaboration opportunities, to further drive down the cost of electrification, improve performance and drive sustainability for future vehicles.
GM is already working to accelerate new technology such as lithium metal, silicon and solid state batteries, along with production methods that can quickly be used to improve and update battery cell manufacturing process.
Honda said it was making progress on all solid state battery technology which the company sees as the core element of future EVs. It has established a demonstration line in Japan and is making further progress toward mass production.
“GM and Honda will share our best technology, design and manufacturing strategies to deliver affordable and desirable EVs on a global scale, including our key markets in North America, South America and China,” said Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO. “By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own.”
“Honda is committed to reaching our goal of carbon neutrality on a global basis by 2050, which requires driving down the cost of electric vehicles to make EV ownership possible for the greatest number of customers,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Honda president & CEO. “Honda and GM will build on our successful technology collaboration to help achieve a dramatic expansion in the sales of electric vehicles.”
In 2018, Honda joined GM’s EV battery module development efforts. In 2020, GM and Honda announced plans to codevelop two EVs, including the Honda Prologue, to be launched in early 2024, soon followed by Acura’s first EV SUV.
The companies have an ongoing relationship with GM’s Cruise unit and are working together on the development of the Origin, one of the first purpose-built fully autonomous vehicles designed for driverless ride-hail and delivery.
