Common operating system for future cars
Cooperation between Honda and Nissan, according to reports, goes much deeper than just sharing electronic control units (ECUs). If a new report from Japan is confirmed, the companies may also join forces to create a new operating system for future software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This project will tie their engineering roadmaps much more closely than a simple parts supply deal.
Both companies are actively looking for ways to save money to better counter threats from new competitors from China. It is also known that they seek to increase standardization to accelerate the development of next-generation vehicles.
Technical details and timelines
Unnamed sources who spoke to The Japan Times claim that the common operating system will be easy to update and will eventually gain autonomous driving features. The same report notes that the new OS will be based on Nissan technology, not Honda, which is quite unexpected given the current balance of power in the broader partnership.
Compared to most other automakers, especially Asian ones, the operating systems of both Honda and Nissan are quite outdated and need urgent updating. There is no information yet on when the new system will be ready for use, but both companies undoubtedly want to introduce it as soon as possible.
Component sharing and expansion of the alliance
Information about closer cooperation between Honda and Nissan, which may also include Mitsubishi, appeared at the end of last month. It is reported that common ECUs for all three brands will work with both hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Final details on the development and procurement of common components have not yet been confirmed, but at the end of June, Honda President Toshihiro Mibe stated that negotiations with Nissan are ‘quite advanced’ and that an announcement is imminent.
Early reports indicate that these common ECUs could hit the market as early as 2029 or 2030. The common operating system will most likely appear only after the ECUs launch.
Such a move could significantly change the balance of power in the market, as the unification of software platforms will accelerate the implementation of autonomous functions and optimize research costs. At the same time, the use of Nissan technology as the basis for the common OS indicates that the Japanese automaker, despite some difficulties, retains competitive advantages in the software field. If the alliance indeed includes Mitsubishi, the combined group will be able to compete in scale with leading players such as Toyota or Volkswagen, especially in the segment of electric vehicles and intelligent control systems.