Honda and Nissan Collaborate on Common Car Operating Software.

Honda Motor and Nissan are developing common operating software for cars. Honda is a Japan-based company that operates in multiple business segments, including motorcycles, automobiles, financial services, and life creation. The software development aims to enhance interoperability and efficiency in the automotive industry.

Honda Motor and Nissan Motor have entered into discussions to develop a common operating system for their next-generation vehicles, aiming to enhance interoperability and efficiency in the automotive industry. The collaboration, which began in December 2024, is a strategic move to catch up with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and Tesla of the United States [1].

The two Japanese automakers plan to introduce vehicles equipped with this new operating system by the late 2020s. Despite previous merger talks collapsing earlier this year due to differences over terms, the companies have continued to work together in various areas, including automotive software development [2].

The partnership focuses on software integration and collaboration, with a shared goal of improving their technological capabilities. This move is particularly timely as the automotive industry transitions towards electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). By working together, Honda and Nissan aim to reduce development costs and accelerate the deployment of new technologies [3].

Separately, automotive software developer Elektrobit has signed a joint development agreement with electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn to build an AI-powered platform for software-defined, electric vehicles. The scalable vehicle architecture, dubbed "EV.OS," is designed to support multiple high-performance and real-time ECUs, as well as a service-oriented architecture [3].

The EV.OS platform aims to simplify the vehicle’s software systems and functions by separating them into independent, reusable parts. This design offers a high level of interoperability and allows each component to communicate with other networked devices in the vehicle, regardless of their embedded programming language or hardware configurations. The platform will also include a reference E/E architecture, non-differentiating EV operating system, and EV application [3].

Foxconn, known for its role in assembling high-tech electronics for Apple, is exploring partnerships with global automakers. In July 2021, Foxconn established the “Mobility in Harmony” Consortium, an open electric vehicle alliance with the primary goal of creating a standardized, open, and modular platform for next-generation EVs [3].

Elektrobit and Foxconn aim to reduce the platform’s complexity to accelerate its deployment and reduce the total cost of ownership. The collaboration between these two companies is expected to simplify the process of integrating software and hardware, making it easier for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to expand their EV portfolios into new markets [3].

In conclusion, Honda and Nissan's partnership to develop a common operating system for next-generation cars is a significant step towards enhancing their technological capabilities and staying competitive in the global automotive market. The collaboration with Foxconn by Elektrobit to build the EV.OS platform further underscores the industry's focus on standardization and simplification of vehicle software systems.

References:
[1] https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Honda-Nissan-to-create-common-operating-system-for-next-gen-cars
[2] https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/honda-nissan-to-develop-common-operating-system-for-future-vehicles--report-93CH-4133115
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/honda-nissan-standardize-vehicle-software-gen-cars-late-2020s-2507/