In a drive for future production of electric vehicles, the Honda Motor Company has announced that they will be adopting General Motors’ (GM) electric-vehicle platform earlier this year.
Likened to a modular architecture, GM’s platform provides a range of components that can be shared across a variety of cars as well as SUVs and trucks. For Honda, this collaboration includes the use of GM’s Ultium propulsion system that features 50 to 200 kWh battery packs and a triple variant motor family. This also includes GM’s power systems that can deliver up to 1,000 horsepower in two- or four-wheel drives.
Honda will also be adopting GM’s Super Cruise driver-assistance features but will be featured with a different name. Although the vehicles will be co-developed, Honda has assured customers that they will be manufactured with unique builds for both the interior and exteriors of the car. This is in line with Honda’s hopes to deliver a different driving experience for its customers from that of GM’s.
These announcements stand in line with Honda’s strategy to produce more hybrid vehicles in the U.S. in the first half of the decade. The Honda electric vehicles that will be made and assembled at GM plants are expected to be sold both in the U.S. and Canada at the beginning of 2024.
In a press statement, Doug Parks, executive BP for global product development, purchasing, and supply chain of General Motors has mentioned that this collaboration strengthens the company’s partnership with Honda. “This further validates the capabilities of our Ultium batteries and will allow a profitable EV business through capacity and scale utilization,” he added.
Subsequently, Honda has also agreed that the co-development is beneficial to both parties. Jeffrey Smith, VP of corporate communications, Honda North America has said, “Both companies will be able to achieve economies of scale, reduce cost, and provide value to our customers following the increase of EV volume.”
Not the first time Honda and GM has worked together
This is not the first time that Honda and GM have worked together for propulsion systems, having forged a working relationship in 2013 and 2018 respectively. In the past, both companies have come together to co-create hydrogen fuel-cell technology and battery cell modules. Earlier in the year, Honda and GM also unveiled the investment they’ve placed on Cruise to produce the autonomous vehicle, the Cruise Origin together.
