Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. have agreed to jointly develop and standardize electronic control units and software for next-generation software-defined vehicles, with the systems planned for use from fiscal year 2029.
The agreement covers multiple core electronic control units within the vehicles’ electrical and electronic architecture, including high-performance computers using system-on-chips and zone electronic control units that manage different areas of the vehicle.
The automakers will also establish common specifications for the in-vehicle operating system, key parts of the middleware and vehicle control software running on the electronic control units.
The companies said the standardized systems will allow them to combine engineering expertise and development resources, with the goal of reducing development costs and improving development efficiency.
The move comes as Nissan and Honda seek to strengthen their competitiveness in vehicle software development. Both automakers have identified software-defined vehicles as a key area for collaboration as vehicle functions become increasingly dependent on software and centralized computing.
The work is part of the companies’ broader strategic partnership, which includes exploring additional opportunities for cooperation in areas related to vehicle electrification, carbon neutrality and safety.
