Software and e-mobility: Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan want to work together

Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan are currently struggling in the electric car market. Nissan was once at the forefront with the Leaf, Honda has not yet been able to succeed. However, they cannot avoid the topic. Demand in Germany may have declined in the first half of 2024, but not globally. Now Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda want to cooperate more closely to develop software and electromobility faster and more efficiently than before, reports the industry magazine kfz-betrieb.

Joint software

Software development is to be the focus of the collaboration. The main focus will be on topics such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and infotainment. Within a year, the partners wish to create the foundations for a joint software architecture. A decision will then be made on series production. The three companies urgently need to catch up on these topics, not least to establish a firm position in the still-growing Chinese market. Test cars from Nissan and Honda, which we have had in the editorial office recently, showed a considerable need for improvement in the area of software.

Standardized e-motors

The cooperation agreement is also far-reaching in the area of electromobility. The two companies want to examine the possibility of jointly offering energy services in Japan in the future. Whether this will involve setting up their own charging network or bringing in an electricity provider was initially left open. In the short term, the three aim to start using standardized motors and inverters. In the long term, the specification of batteries is to be standardized. "L-H Battery Company", a Honda and LG Energy Solutions company, is to supply Nissan in North America from 2029.

Overall, the aim is to exploit synergies from joint development and production. In this way, risks could be hedged, costs reduced through economies of scale and distributed more widely. This seems urgently necessary for the survival of the companies. In China, other manufacturers dominate the market, and in Europe, registration figures are a far cry from former successes. This is another reason why part of the plan is to coordinate the model range. "Cooperation with partners is crucial in today's automotive industry, which is undergoing rapid changes due to technological innovations such as electrification and intelligence," said Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors.

(mfz)