General Motors and Honda have announced a new collaboration to co-develop a line of low-cost electric vehicles. The new EVs will be built on a new global architecture and will be powered by next-generation Ultium battery technology. Honda and General Motors are collaborating to enable global production of millions of EVs, including compact crossover vehicles, beginning in 2027, by leveraging the two companies’ technology, design, and sourcing strategies.
The companies will also work to standardise equipment and processes in order to achieve world-class quality, higher throughput, and lower costs. GM and Honda will also talk about future EV battery technology collaboration opportunities in order to reduce the cost of electrification, improve performance, and drive sustainability in future vehicles.
GM is already working to accelerate the development of new technologies such as lithium-metal, silicon, and solid-state batteries, as well as production methods that can be used quickly to improve and update battery cell manufacturing processes. Honda is making progress on its all-solid-state battery technology, which the company sees as a critical component of future electric vehicles. Honda has established a demonstration line for all-solid-state batteries in Japan and is moving closer to mass production.
GM and Honda have already working on 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-gen 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.
