- Honda and Nissan have announced a new joint development agreement.
- It will see the two firms work together on standardized software and ECUs.
- First vehicles with the new technology could arrive as early as 2029.
Merger talks between Honda and Nissan collapsed last year, but the companies noted they would continue exploring other opportunities to work together. They’ve found some common ground as the automakers have announced a new joint development agreement.
It aims to “standardize multiple electronic control units that form the core of next-generation software-defined vehicles.” This will include the “in-vehicle operating system” as well as “key parts of the middleware.” They’ll also share vehicle control software.
More: Honda, Nissan, And Mitsubishi Want To Share Parts, Starting With The Car’s Brain
While much of this will be hidden away from view, it sounds like future infotainment systems will have a lot in common. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are minor tweaks – such as special graphics – to differentiate Honda and Nissan systems.
Vehicles using the jointly developed software and ECUs are expected to arrive in the 2029 fiscal year. This means we can expect the first model to arrive between April 1, 2029 and March 31, 2030.
The companies didn’t go into many specifics, but said that standardizing foundational technologies will enable them to “leverage their combined engineering expertise and development resources to improve efficiency, accelerate innovation, and enhance competitiveness through reduced development costs and greater economies of scale.” The automakers also hinted at faster development cycles, which are needed in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Honda and Nissan aren’t stopping at ECUs and software as they’ll also “continue to explore opportunities for collaboration across a range of areas.”
Interestingly, the deal doesn’t involve the larger Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance. However, Reuters reported that Mitsubishi is considering joining the software and ECU tie-up.
