Honda is planning to build millions of electric vehicles (EV) by 2030 using three new dedicated platforms, with one to be jointly developed with US partner General Motors Co, according to a top executive at the Japanese manufacturer.
Honda’s global head of electrification, Shinji Aoyama, told Reuters on Thursday that the firm will introduce an electric mini commercial vehicle in Japan in 2024, built on a new small EV platform. This will then be followed by a full-size electric model in North America in 2026, on a new large platform.
Both platforms will be used for other models. Aoyama said a third platform, which he described as “medium size”, will be shared with General Motors, starting in 2027. The two companies had previously said – in early April – that they would jointly develop “affordable electric vehicles” for global markets, but released few other details.
“Whether they will be based on Honda’s architecture or on GM’s platform has not been decided,” Aoyama said. “We have not decided which plants (or) what will be produced,” he added. “But we are going to share the bill of process” for manufacturing “to enable the cars to be produced at either” Honda or GM plants.
Aoyama said Honda has agreed to use GM’s next-generation Ultium battery, though the specifications have not been finalised. However, he said the Japanese company has no plans to participate in GM’s Ultium battery joint venture with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution.
Honda recently announced that it plans to build two million electric vehicles globally by 2030, including the mid-size models being developed with GM.
Aoyoma also said that Honda is targeting North American production of 750,000-800,000 electric vehicles in 2030, and about the same in China, with another 400,000-500,000 in Japan and other markets.
Keyword: Honda to develop three new EV platforms by 2030