General Motors and Honda have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to discuss a collaboration on a variety of segments in North America, intending to share common vehicle platforms, including both electric and internal combustion systems. Co-development planning has begun and engineering work should follow in early 2021.
This latest announcement builds on an agreement signed in April to jointly develop two new electric vehicles for Honda based on GM’s highly flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries. The GM-Honda relationship, which began more than two decades ago, includes recent collaborations between the companies on fuel cells, batteries and the Cruise Origin shared autonomous vehicle.
“This alliance will help both companies accelerate investment in future mobility innovation by freeing up additional resources,” said Mark Reuss, president of General Motors. “Given our strong track record of collaboration, the companies would realize significant synergies in the development of today’s vehicle portfolio.”
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Executive Vice President Seiji Kuraishi said, “Through this new alliance with GM, we can achieve substantial cost efficiencies in North America that will enable us to invest in future mobility technology, while maintaining our own distinct and competitive product offerings.”
The alliance will leverage technologies from shared vehicle platforms and propulsion systems and generate cost savings through joint purchasing. The companies plan to share research and development and engineering costs for select future co-developed vehicle and propulsion platforms. The combined R&D efforts will relate to electrical architecture, advanced driver assist systems, infotainment, connectivity and vehicle-to-everything communication.
In April, the companies announced that Honda would incorporate GM’s OnStar safety, security and connected services into the two all-new electric vehicles for Honda based on GM’s global EV platform, seamlessly integrating them with HondaLink.
General Motors has manufacturing locations in the South in Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Honda started production in Alabama in 2001 at its plant in Lincoln. Today, the plant produces the Odyssey, Passport and Ridgeline and Acura MDX.
