Mitsubishi to join Nissan-Honda alliance for electric cars

Mitsubishi is set to enter into the Nissan-Honda EV alliance in a bid to cut the cost of developing software and electric cars, according to trade publication Nikkei Asia.

The partnership betweeen the two Japanese manufacturers, established in March, also covers parts sourcing and advanced driver assistance systems.

Nikkei said it expects Nissan and Honda to jointly develop a new software architecture for their next-generation cars,and for Mitsubishi to then licence it for its own use.

The trio could also work to fill gaps in each other’s line-ups, with Mitsubishi potentially supplying plug-in hybrid powertrains or small kei trucks to Honda, which currently has neither.

The news comes as the Japanese car industry gears up to fight the wave of new and fast-moving brands dedicated to EVs, such as BYD and Tesla.

“Emerging players are very aggressive and are making inroads at incredible speed,” said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida in March.

Mazda, Subaru and Toyota have also entered into their own partnership, effectively splitting the Japanese industry into two distinct factions.

Rather than working on EVs, the Toyota group will work to make combustion engines carbon-neutral, exploring the use of liquid hydrogen, synthetic e-fuels and biofuels.

The firms will each develop a new generation of their “signature” engines: Mazda a Wankel rotary, Subaru a flat four and Toyota a straight four.

Toyota CEO Koji Sato said: “In order to provide our customers with diverse options to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to take on the challenge of evolving engines that are in tune with the energy environment of the future.

“The three companies, which share the same aspirations, will refine engine technologies through friendly competition."

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