General Motors and Honda will be codeveloping a series of affordable electric vehicles (EVs) using Ultium battery technology, the two companies have announced.
GM and Honda, who have developed a close working relationship over the past decade, are looking to leverage their respective technology, design and sourcing strategies to enable global production of millions of EVs starting in 2027, including compact crossovers. The compact crossover segment is the largest in the world, with annual volumes of more than 13 million vehicles.
The companies will also work toward standardizing equipment and processes to achieve higher throughput and greater affordability. GM and Honda also will 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 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 all-solid-state battery technology which the company sees as the core element of future EVs. Honda has established a demonstration line in Japan for all-solid-state batteries and is making further progress toward mass-production.
By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own,” said Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO.
Toshihiro Mibe, Honda president & CEO, said Honda and GM will build on their technology collaboration to help achieve a “dramatic expansion” in the sales of electric vehicles.
GM and Honda have developed a close working relationship over many years, including several projects in recent years focused on electric and autonomous vehicle technologies. In 2013, the two companies began working together on the co-development of a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies. 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. 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.
