Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi sign partnership MOU

Nissan Motor, Honda Motor and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly discuss a framework for further intelligence and electrification of automobiles.

It’s based on the agreement signed by Nissan and Honda on March 15 with both working to further accelerate initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and azero traffic accident society.

Discussions are being held to consider collaboration on environmental technologies, electrification technologies, and software development.

To accelerate this process, it is essential to create new value by integrating the technologies and knowledge cultivated by each company, and to improve business efficiencies, they say.

Mitsubishi Motors’ participation in the areas of potential collaboration considered and discussed by Nissan and Honda will not only add new knowledge and strengths but will also provide further synergies that can only be generated by the three companies, as well as new business opportunities, say the duo.

“We are very pleased to welcome a new member to the strategic partnership between Honda and Nissan,” says Nissan president and chief executive Makoto Uchida.

“Mitsubishi Motors has unique technologies and expertise and has been collaborating with Nissan as a partner.

“Through collaboration among the three companies, we expect the partnership to evolve into something that creates greater value, and to deliver unique products and services from each company that meet the diverse needs of customers.”

Honda president Toshihiro Mibe says the automobile industry is in a period of transformation said to occur once in a century.

“We expect that the combination of technologies and knowledge cultivated by Nissan and Honda, as well as the strength and experience of Mitsubishi Motors, will enable us to more quickly resolve various issues related to electrification and intelligence on a global scale, and help lead societal reforms as a top runner.”

Mitsubishi Motors president and chief executive Takao Kato says collaboration with partners is essential in today’s automotive industry, which is undergoing rapid changes due to technological innovations such as electrification and intelligence.

“We believe that we can discover new possibilities in a variety of fields through collaboration among the three companies.”

Nissan and Honda have agreed on joint research in fundamental technologies for a next-generation software defined vehicles (SDV) platform, based on the March 15 MOU signing.

 Both companies are promoting research and development and investment in various technologies to promote the spread and evolution of EVs, especially SDVs.

The two companies also believe that the software field – including autonomous driving, connectivity, and AI – is an area where technological innovation is extremely rapid and where synergies can easily be obtained through the fusion of resources, such as technological knowledge and human resources.

Nissan and Honda say they will continue to study ways to create further synergies between the two companies and work toward the speedy implementation of specific measures.

Both aim to complete basic research in about one year and consider the possibility of mass production development.

Main cooperation areas include batteries, including supply of lithium-ion batteries for EVs manufactured by L-H Battery Company (a joint venture between Honda and LG Energy Solution) to Nissan in North America after 2028.

They will also work on e-axles, first sharing motors and inverters, working on models to be sold globally.

The duo will also study cooperation on energy services and resource circulation in Japan, including charging, energy equipment, energy services utilising batteries, and charging services.

EVs and Beyond earlier indicated a partnership involving the trio was coming.