“The alliance with General Motors is a big weapon for us.”
Honda CEO, President and Executive Director Toshihiro Mibe summed up his thoughts in that one short sentence during a roundtable discussion with members of the media last week. Talking about the company’s transition to zero carbon emissions, both Mibe and Senior Managing Executive Officer Shinji Aoyama praised the goodness of Honda’s partnership with GM, both on the Ultium-based 2024 Prologue electric SUV and future products based on the platform co-developed by the two automakers. giant.
“We believe holistic collaboration is mutually beneficial, not just [vehicle] platform but with purchasing and procurement,” said Aoyama. “Collaboration is the future.”
But while the Honda Prologue 2024 is largely based on General Motors technology – its Ultium platform and battery are shared with the Cadillac Lyriq 2023 and Chevrolet Blazer EV 2024 – the next joint project between the two will likely have more Honda DNA. Coming in 2027 will be an electric car with prices starting under $30,000, which will feature more intelligence sharing between GM and the Japanese automaker. Codenamed AEV (affordable electric vehicle), the new project will consist of the best from each brand.
“Both Honda and GM have enough technology to build on [our own cars],” said Aoyama. “So now engineers from both entities reveal the technology we have, then try to discuss which technology can be optimal for both.”
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That could mean, theoretically, that the AEV project could be a design entirely sourced from Honda, although it’s likely that each company will contribute certain components. What’s more, the collaboration isn’t just limited to the car itself. Both GM and Honda are evaluating their logistics and production facilities to identify the most effective way to acquire the materials, manpower, and space needed to build entry-level EVs. This is all part of the goal of the two companies to become carbon neutral, GM by 2040 and Honda by 2050.
“From now on, everything from procurement and materials to resource circulation is one total package,” said Aoyama. “We have to make everything happen in this sphere, not just battery electric vehicles.”
