General Motors may build both a Honda EV and an Acura EV on behalf of the Japanese automaker, according to a new report.
GM and Honda entered a partnership to jointly develop EVs early last year. As part of this partnership, GM will build a future Honda EV crossover at its Ramos Arizpe Assembly plant in Mexico and a future Acura EV crossover at its Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee, sources familiar with the plans told Automotive News.
Both the Honda EV and Acura EV crossovers are roughly the same size as the Cadillac Lyriq. The Cadillac Lyriq is expected to be produced at the GM Spring Hill Assembly plant as well, meaning the Cadillac and Acura vehicles would be built alongside each other. The Ramos Arizpe Assembly plant currently builds the Chevy Blazer and Equinox, but will allegedly be retooled in order to produce electric vehicles by 2024.
The report also indicates the Honda and Acura vehicles will use GM’s Ultium battery technology. It’s likely they will use the automaker’s Ultium Drive electric motors, as well.
AN reached out to Honda for comment on the rumored production plans, with a spokesperson saying the company “looks forward to sharing new information on our North American electrification strategy later this year.”
In September, GM and Honda announced they had formed a new North American strategic alliance that will see them collaborate on purchasing, research and development, and connected services such as OnStar. The alliance will also see the automakers “collaborate on a variety of segments in North America, intending to share common vehicle platforms, including both electrified and internal combustion propulsion systems that align with the vehicle platforms.”
Strategic alliances such as this are expected to become more commonplace in the industry due to rising vehicle development costs brought on by new technology like electric powertrains and semi- and full-autonomous driving systems. In addition to passenger vehicles, GM and Honda are also working together on the Cruise Origin shared autonomous vehicle. Honda invested $2.75 billion into Cruise back in 2018.
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Comments
I wonder where Blazer and/or Equinox will be moved to if this happens?
They have room to cover all.
Not at Ramos. 200k units of Blazer and 250+ units of Equinox plus an EV?
yes, Ramos is building new facilities for ev model
Isn’t this like the 3rd article about this same thing you made? Nice to remind people but?
the news is a month old. these writers must have a quota to meet.
Biden should make Mexico landfill Mary’s dead EV batteries.
GM & Honda will eventually merge. Honda will lack global scale if North America is hacked off future r&d.
It’s probably smart to be low key about the alliance–Japanese aren’t huge buy USA fans and many US buyers want a “domestic”. GM Honda gets to avoid any of the jabs taken buy FCA or Stellantis.
GM is going the same with SAIC allowing MG to display a modified Avista as a concept car.
The more I think about it, the more I think your prediction makes sense. Chrysler has Stellantis, Ford has an agreement with VW. I can see GM pairing up with Honda.
If you can’t beat them, join them.