Honda developing three new electric vehicle platforms by 2030 -executive

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpBy Paul Lienertp

pReuters – Honda Motor Co plans to build millions of electric vehicles EV by 2030 using three new dedicated platforms, with one to be jointly developed with U.S. partner General Motors Co, a top executive at the Japanese automaker said.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pShinji Aoyama, Hondas global head of electrification, told Reuters on Thursday the firm will introduce an electric mini commercial vehicle in Japan in 2024, built on a new small EV platform. This will be followed by fullsize electric model in North America in 2026, on a new large platform.p

pBoth platforms will be used for other models.p

pSpeaking in a video call, Aoyama said a third platform, which he described as “medium size”, will be shared with General Motors, starting in 2027.p

pThe two companies in early April said they would jointly develop “affordable electric vehicles” for global markets, but released few other details.p

p“Whether they will be based on Honda‘s architecture or on GM’s platform has not been decided,” Aoyama said.p

p“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.p

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

pAoyama said Honda has agreed to use GM‘s nextgeneration Ultium battery, though the specifications have not been finalized. But the Japanese automaker has no plans to participate in GM’s Ultium battery joint venture with South Koreas LG Energy Solution, he said.p

pHonda has said it plans to build two million electric vehicles globally by 2030, including the midsize models being developed with GM.p

pAoyoma said Honda is targeting North American production of 750,000800,000 electric vehicles in 2030, and about the same in China, with another 400,000500,000 in Japan and other markets.p

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pp Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit Editing by Kenneth Maxwellp

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