General Motors (GM) and Honda will co-develop a series of “affordable” EVs based on a new global architecture using next-generation Ultium battery technology and targeting the world’s most popular vehicle segments.
The two say they’ll explore advanced battery collaboration and intend producing millions of EVs, the first in the new EV series due on sale in 2027 starting in North America.
These will include compact crossover vehicles (with global annual volumes exceeding 13 million vehicles), leveraging the two companies’ technology, design and sourcing strategies.
The companies will also work toward standardising equipment and processes to achieve world-class quality, higher throughput and greater affordability.
GM is already working to accelerate new technologies like lithium-metal, silicon and solid-state batteries, along with production methods that can quickly be used to improve and update battery cell manufacturing processes.
Honda is making progress on its solid-state battery technology which the company sees as the core element of future EVs and has established a demonstration line in Japan for all-solid-state batteries while progressing 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,” says GM chair and chief executive Mary Barra.
“This is a key step to deliver on our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in our global products and operations by 2040 and eliminate tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles in the US by 2035. “By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own.”
Honda president and chief executive Toshihiro Mibe says the company aims to reach carbon neutrality globally by 2050, “which requires driving down the cost of electric vehicles to make EV ownership possible for the greatest number of customers”.
Honda senior managing executive officer Shinji Aoyama adds: “The progress we have made with GM since we announced the EV battery development collaboration in 2018, followed by co-development of electric vehicles including the Honda Prologue, has demonstrated the win-win relationship that can create new value for our customers.
“This new series of affordable EVs will build on this relationship by leveraging our strength in the development and production of high quality, compact class vehicles.”
GM global product development, purchasing and supply chain executive vice president Doug Parks says plans include “a new all-electric product for North America positioned at a price point lower than the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV, building on the two million units of EV capacity the company plans to install by the end of 2025”.
In 2013, the two companies began working together on the co-development of a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies.
Honda joined GM’s EV battery module development efforts in 2018 and, in 2020, GM and Honda announced plans to codevelop two EVs, including the Honda Prologue, to be launched in early 2024, and soon followed by Acura’s first EV SUV.
Further, the companies have an ongoing relationship with Cruise and are working together on the development of the Cruise Origin, one of the first purpose-built fully autonomous vehicles designed for driverless ride-hail and delivery.
