General Motors and Honda Motor Corp. made a new commitment to expand their ongoing relationship in battery-electric vehicle technology, and now claim they will co-develop a “new global architecture” for affordable EVs. These new vehicles will be based on the Ultium battery and motor technology, which GM developed.
Ultium is the basis of all the electric vehicles that GM is currently planning to introduce, as well as two electric SUVs that GM will produce for sale as Honda models.
“GM and Honda will share our best technology, design and manufacturing strategies to deliver affordable and desirable EVs on a global scale, including our key markets in North America, South America and China,” stated GM chairman and CEO Mary Barra.
In addition to the Ultium technology, GM is working on lithium-metal, silicon and solid-state batteries, and battery production methods.
Honda is developing a solid-state battery technology.
Barra called the new announcement ““a key step to deliver on our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in our global products and operations by 2040 and eliminate tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles in the U.S. by 2035.”
In their current announcement, GM and Honda declared their intent to establish a global EV portfolio by 2027, including compact cross-over vehicles, with standardized production parts and processes.
In addition, the partners indicated they will seek “future EV battery technology opportunities,” to lower the cost of electrification and improve performance and sustainability for future vehicles.
GM and Honda began working together in 2013 to develop fuel-cell and hydrogen storage technologies. In 2018, Honda joined GM’s EV battery module development, and in 2020 the two automakers launched the plan to codevelop electric SUVs, starting with the Honda Prologue to be launched in 2024. That will be followed later an Acura electric SUV.
The two are also collaborating on autonomous vehicle technology for ride-hail and delivery services.
