According to the announcement, the new partnership will bring “further synergies” and create “new business opportunities” for all three parties.
- The addition of Mitsubishi further expands the Honda-Nissan Alliance.
- The three automakers will collaborate on software development and electrification to better compete with rivals from China.
- Honda and Nissan have deepened their cooperation, confirming they will negotiate on sharing electric vehicle components and complementary models for future SDVs (software-defined vehicles).
Mitsubishi Motors has confirmed rumors of joining the newly formed Honda-Nissan Alliance, with the three companies signing a memorandum of understanding earlier today. The three Japanese automakers will collaborate on software development and share research and development costs for electrification. In addition, Nissan and Honda have agreed to supplement the models in their respective product lines in certain regions around the world.
Honda and Nissan’s original agreement was signed in March 2024, but now Mitsubishi has joined the collaboration. A joint statement from both parties suggests that adding a third partner will achieve “further synergies” and create “new business opportunities.”
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The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality and get closer to a zero-accident society faster. This can be achieved by sharing the costs of environmental/electrification technology as well as software development, making them more competitive with Chinese rivals.
“Discussions between Nissan and Honda on possible collaboration have progressed, and we have decided to participate in this framework,” said Takao Kato, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors. “Collaboration with partners is essential in today’s automotive industry, which is changing rapidly due to technological innovations such as electrification and intelligence. We believe that by working together, the three companies can discover new possibilities in various fields.”
Nissan and Honda agree on joint research project
As the Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi partnership was confirmed, Nissan and Honda also made separate announcements regarding the progress of negotiations to expand their collaboration.
The two companies have agreed on a joint research project, including the development of a next-generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) platform. Nissan and Honda will consider the possibility of mass production based on the results of the research phase, which is expected to be completed in about a year. On the software side, the focus will be on autonomous driving, connectivity and artificial intelligence, which are critical to the automotive industry.
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The collaboration will also include sharing batteries and key electric vehicle components such as motors, inverters and e-axles for future mass-produced models. In addition, the joint venture between Honda and LG Energy Solution may supply lithium-ion batteries to Nissan in North America after 2028.
Nissan and Honda will also consider sharing models. The two companies have reached a basic agreement on shared models and their sales areas. However, the two parties did not disclose the launch schedule of the branded cars. Finally, the two brands are studying the possibility of cooperating in energy services in Japan, including charging.
The combination of Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi effectively split the Japanese auto industry into two camps, with Toyota, Daihatsu, Suzuki, Subaru and Mazda forming competitors.
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