Honda Targets Making Three Types Of Electric Vehicles By 2027, One Of Them Is In Collaboration With GM

JAKARTA - Honda Motor Co. plans to build millions of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. This build will use three new dedicated platforms, one of which will be co-developed with their US partner, General Motors Co.

Shinji Aoyama, Honda's global head of electrification, told Reuters on Thursday, April 21, that the company will introduce electric mini-commercial vehicles in Japan in 2024, built on a new small EV platform. This will be followed by a full-size electric model in North America in 2026, on a new large platform. These two platforms will also be used for other models.

Aoyama said the third platform, which he described as "medium size", would be co-built with General Motors, starting in 2027.

The two companies in early April said they would jointly develop an "affordable electric vehicle" for the global market.

"Whether they will be based on Honda's architecture or on the GM platform?, has not been decided yet," said Aoyama.

"We haven't decided which type (or) what to produce," he added. "But we will share the process bill for manufacturing that would allow cars to be produced at Honda or GM factories."

GM is building two premium electric SUVs for Honda in North America, starting in 2024, based on the dedicated EV platform that also underpins GM production, the Cadillac Lyriq.

Aoyama said Honda had agreed to use GM's next-generation Ultium battery, although the specifications were not final. But the Japanese automaker has no plans to participate in GM's Ultium battery joint venture with South Korea's LG Energy Solution.

Honda said it plans to build two million electric vehicles globally by 2030, including a midsize model developed with GM.

Aoyoma said Honda is targeting production in North America of 750.000-800.000 electric vehicles by 2030. This number is almost the same as in China, with a target of 400.000-500.000, for markets in Japan and other markets.