Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. announced last week that they’ve signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on a framework for further intelligence and electrification of automobiles. 

The agreement is based on one signed by Nissan and Honda March 15. 

“Nissan and Honda are working to further accelerate initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and a zero-traffic-accident society,” a news release says. “In anticipation of collaboration in areas such as environmental technologies, electrification technologies, and software development, discussions are being conducted on a broad scope.”

The knowledge cultivated by each company could create new value and accelerate the process, the release says. 

Including Mitsubishi Motors will add new knowledge, strengths, and business opportunities, the release says. 

“The automobile industry is in a period of transformation said to occur once in a century,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Honda president and representative executive officer,  in the release. “We expect that the combination of technologies and knowledge cultivated by Nissan and Honda, as well as the strength and experience of Mitsubishi Motors, will enable us to more quickly resolve various issues related to electrification and intelligence on a global scale, and help lead societal reforms as a top runner.”

Nissan and Honda also announced the signing of a second MOU based on the March 15 agreement. 

A separate press release says both companies are promoting R&D and investment in various technologies to promote the spread and evolution of electric vehicles (EVs) and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). 

Specifically, the MOU supports research in for a next-generation SDV platform, EV batteries, e-Axles, energy services, and resource circulation. It also allows for mutual vehicle complementation.  

“The two companies also believe that the software field, including autonomous driving, connectivity, and AI, which will determine the value of vehicles in the future and become a source of competitiveness, is an area where technological innovation is extremely rapid and where synergies can easily be obtained through the fusion of resources from both companies, such as technological knowledge and human resources,” the release says. 

The MOU outlines basic research on an SDV platform and possible mass production development in about a year, the release said. 

Another focus will be to create a high output to low-cost EV battery model, the release says. Batteries produced would be available for use by both companies, it says. 

The companies also will study the supply of lithium-ion batteries for EVs manufactured by L-H Battery Company Inc., a joint venture between Honda, LG Energy Solution, and Nissan in North America. 

Both companies will share motors and inverters for e-Axles to advance research in that area, the release says. 

The announcement comes as OEMs face strong competition from EVs in China. 

“Instead of working entirely on their own — a lengthy and costly endeavor — the three companies are joining forces to accelerate development and achieve economies of scale,” Motor1 reports. 

Images

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a joint agreement to research fundamental technologies in the area of platforms for next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs)/Nissan.