GM, Honda form alliance to build EVs

0 0 May 10, 2022 Edit this post

Honda and General Motors (GM) have inked a deal to build affordable electric cars together.

They will be based on a new global architecture and use GM's next-generation Ultium battery technology.

The two companies are working together to enable global production of millions of EVs starting in 2027, including compact crossover vehicles, leveraging the two companies’ technology, design and sourcing strategies.

They will also work toward standardising equipment and processes to achieve world-class quality, higher throughput and greater affordability.

The compact crossover segment is the largest in the world, with annual volumes of more than 13 million vehicles.

GM and Honda also will discuss opportunities for collaboration on the development of battery technology for EVs, 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.

It has established a demonstration line in Japan for all-solid-state batteries and is making further progress toward mass-production.

GM chair and CEO, Mary Barra, said the alliance was a key step in the company's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in global products and operations by 2040 and to eliminate tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles in the US by 2035.

"By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own,” she said.

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 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 co-develop 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.

Honda president and CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, said Honda was committed to reaching its goal of carbon neutrality on a global basis by 2050.

He said this required driving down the cost of electric vehicles to make EV ownership possible for the greatest number of customers.

“Honda and GM will build on our successful technology collaboration to help achieve a dramatic expansion in the sales of electric vehicles,” he said.