Will the relationship Honda has with these other brands sell more Japanese EVs?
The automotive industry is facing intense challenges, with heightened competition and stricter emissions regulations, compounded by the rapid rise of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. To navigate these obstacles, some of the largest players in the industry are forming alliances.
The recently established Honda-Nissan alliance may soon expand to include Mitsubishi. According to Nikkei Asia, Mitsubishi is reportedly looking to join the existing partnership between Honda and Nissan. The initial agreement, announced in mid-March, focuses on collaboration in automotive software platforms, key EV components, and complementary products.
Moreover, given that Nissan holds a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi, adding this third Japanese brand to the alliance seems logical. Mitsubishi has already signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Honda and Nissan to begin discussions about a broader collaboration. Following the news, Mitsubishi’s stock rose by 6.3 percent, while Nissan and Honda saw increases of 2.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.
A three-way partnership would help the companies reduce research and development (R&D) costs and accelerate product development, providing a stronger competitive response to the growing presence of Chinese carmakers. However, the specific terms of the alliance have not been disclosed.
Notably, Nissan and Mitsubishi have been working together with Renault since 1999. This potential partnership between Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi is not the first Japanese automaker trio formed this year. Earlier, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru teamed up to develop a new generation of internal combustion engines (ICEs).
On top of that, these engines will prioritize hybrid powertrains and compatibility with carbon-neutral fuels. Toyota is working on inline-four engines, Mazda is refining its rotary technology for range-extended EVs, and Subaru is enhancing its boxer engine. Although the collaboration between Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi may not directly involve exciting projects like sports cars, it could lead to advancements in plug-in hybrids and kei cars.
The focus is primarily on reducing costs and improving EV technology. While it would be exciting to see these automakers work together on an affordable sports car, like Nissan’s recent hints about reviving the Silvia, the alliance’s goals are more pragmatic. Ultimately, the main objective is to cut costs and streamline the development of more sustainable vehicles, making it difficult to prioritize high-performance, profitable sports cars in the current landscape.
We got all this from Motor 1 and their full article is linked here. Thank you Motor 1 for the information and images.
