Honda and Nissan Partner on Next-Generation Vehicle Software
Swan.my.id - Japan, Honda and Nissan have agreed to jointly develop standardized vehicle hardware and software for their next-generation software-defined vehicles, marking another step in their strategic partnership.
Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. will work together on standardized electronic control units, vehicle software, and electrical and electronic architecture. The companies plan to use the jointly developed technologies in next-generation software-defined vehicles, or SDVs, from fiscal year 2029 onward.
The agreement focuses on technologies that sit at the center of modern connected and intelligent vehicles. In particular, Honda and Nissan will establish common specifications for multi-core electronic control units, an in-vehicle operating system, middleware, and key vehicle control software.
The partnership follows several rounds of discussions between the two automakers. Although Honda and Nissan ended their merger discussions in 2025, they continued to pursue strategic cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Honda and Nissan Target Standardized Vehicle Software
Honda and Nissan expect standardization to help them develop vehicle technologies faster and use engineering resources more efficiently. By creating common specifications, the companies can combine their technical expertise while reducing duplicated development work.
The agreement covers several important components within the electrical and electronic architecture of future vehicles. These systems will support the increasingly software-driven functions that automakers want to introduce in new models.
Moreover, the companies plan to develop common specifications for multi-core vehicle ECUs. These ECUs will work alongside an in-vehicle operating system, middleware, and vehicle control software.
The approach could also help Honda and Nissan gain economies of scale. Therefore, the companies aim to accelerate innovation while improving competitiveness and controlling vehicle development costs.
The planned collaboration includes:
- Standardized multi-core vehicle ECUs
- Common electrical and electronic architecture specifications
- An in-vehicle operating system
- Core middleware technologies
- Key vehicle control software
- Future collaboration opportunities in the SDV software domain
Honda and Nissan Build on Earlier Cooperation
The latest agreement follows a series of initiatives that began in 2024. In March of that year, Honda and Nissan signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation involving electric vehicles, automotive software, and artificial intelligence.
Several months later, in August 2024, the companies announced a joint research agreement focused on a platform and related technologies for next-generation SDVs.
Meanwhile, their relationship took a different direction in December 2024. Honda and Nissan signed another memorandum of understanding to explore a potential merger that could also have involved Mitsubishi. Honda proposed a stock swap that would have made Nissan a wholly owned subsidiary.
The companies also considered establishing a joint holding company. Under that proposal, Honda would have nominated directors and the president.
However, the merger discussions ended in February 2025. Honda and Nissan officially canceled their merger plans, while both companies agreed to continue working together through a strategic partnership.
That partnership continued to include artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. Eventually, the cooperation expanded into the joint development of standardized hardware and software for future SDVs.
Software-Defined Vehicles Become a Major Industry Focus
Honda and Nissan are not alone in pursuing standardized technology platforms for software-defined vehicles. Across the automotive industry, manufacturers are investing heavily in computing power, artificial intelligence, vehicle software, and electrification.
For example, Stellantis unveiled its STLA One standardized vehicle platform in May. The automaker plans to use the platform across more than 30 models, with a target of 2 million units by 2035. Industry partners, including Qualcomm Technologies and Applied Intuition, are helping with development.
The shift toward software-defined vehicles reflects a broader change in vehicle development. Automakers increasingly rely on centralized computing, software platforms, and connected systems to deliver new vehicle functions.
As a result, common hardware and software architectures can become increasingly important. Automakers can potentially reuse core technologies across multiple vehicle programs instead of developing completely separate systems for every model.
For Honda and Nissan, the new agreement provides a framework for combining their development capabilities. It also gives both companies an opportunity to spread development investments across future vehicle programs.
Nissan Pushes Toward AI-Defined Vehicles
Nissan has also outlined a longer-term strategy focused on what it calls “Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life.” The strategy places emphasis on AI-defined vehicles and new electrified powertrains.
At the same time, Nissan plans to reduce its product portfolio as part of the broader strategy. The company's direction highlights how artificial intelligence and software are becoming central to its future vehicle plans.
Honda has also identified vehicle intelligence and electrification as important areas for collaboration. Therefore, the new hardware and software agreement fits closely with the companies' wider technology objectives.
The cooperation could give both automakers a common foundation for future SDV development. Nevertheless, the companies still face the challenge of turning standardized technologies into production-ready systems for vehicles arriving from fiscal year 2029 onward.
What the Agreement Means for Future Vehicles
The partnership represents a shift from cooperation around individual vehicle programs toward shared technological foundations.
Instead of developing every electronic system independently, Honda and Nissan can work toward common specifications for critical vehicle computing and software components. This approach may reduce duplicated engineering efforts and support faster development cycles.
In addition, standardized architectures could make it easier for the companies to introduce software-driven functions across different vehicle models. The technology could become especially important as electric vehicles and AI-powered systems become more prominent.
However, the companies' immediate focus remains on development. The jointly developed electrical and electronic architecture, ECUs, and software are intended for next-generation SDVs planned for fiscal year 2029 and beyond.
For now, Honda and Nissan are continuing a partnership that survived the end of their proposed merger. Their latest agreement shows that cooperation can continue even without combining the two automakers into one corporate structure.
Conclusion
Honda and Nissan are moving forward with a joint development agreement covering standardized vehicle hardware and software. The companies will focus on multi-core ECUs, electrical and electronic architecture, an in-vehicle operating system, middleware, and vehicle control software.
The technology is planned for next-generation software-defined vehicles from fiscal year 2029 onward. Moreover, the agreement builds on cooperation that began in 2024 and continued after the companies abandoned their merger plans.
As the automotive industry moves toward software-defined and AI-enabled vehicles, Honda and Nissan are seeking greater efficiency through shared development. Their latest partnership could therefore become an important part of their strategy for future vehicle technology.
FAQ
When will Honda and Nissan use the jointly developed technology?
Honda and Nissan plan to use the jointly developed electrical and electronic architecture, ECUs, and software in next-generation software-defined vehicles from fiscal year 2029 onward.
What technologies will Honda and Nissan develop together?
The agreement covers standardized multi-core vehicle ECUs, an in-vehicle operating system, core middleware, vehicle control software, and related electrical and electronic architecture specifications.
Did Honda and Nissan merge?
No. Honda and Nissan canceled their merger plans in February 2025. However, they agreed to continue their strategic partnership, including cooperation involving AI and electric vehicles.
Why are Honda and Nissan standardizing vehicle systems?
The companies want to combine engineering expertise, accelerate development, improve competitiveness, and reduce vehicle development costs through economies of scale.
What are software-defined vehicles?
Software-defined vehicles rely heavily on vehicle computing systems and software to control and deliver functions. As a result, software becomes a more central part of how modern vehicles operate and evolve.
