Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda are joining forces to develop the software and electronic architecture that will power their next generation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), with the jointly developed technology expected to appear in vehicles from fiscal year 2029 onward.
Under a new joint development agreement, the Japanese automakers will standardize several core electronic control units (ECUs), along with an in-vehicle operating system, key middleware components and vehicle control software.
The partnership reflects the growing importance of software in modern electric vehicles and connected cars. Rather than treating software as a supporting feature, automakers are increasingly using centralized computing, over-the-air updates and software-based vehicle controls as foundations for future vehicle development.
Nissan and Honda Target a Common SDV Architecture
The two companies plan to establish common specifications for multiple core ECUs used within the electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture of their next-generation SDVs.
The work will also cover the vehicle operating system and selected middleware technologies that connect software applications with the vehicle’s underlying hardware. Vehicle control software will be another major area of joint development.
Nissan and Honda say standardizing these fundamental technologies should allow both companies to combine engineering resources and reduce duplication during development.
The resulting architecture is expected to help Nissan and Honda develop new vehicle technologies more quickly while lowering development costs and improving economies of scale.
Software Becomes a Critical EV Battleground
The agreement comes as the automotive industry moves toward increasingly software-centric vehicles.
Software-defined vehicles can support features and improvements throughout a vehicle’s life, including remote software updates, enhanced driver-assistance functions, connected services and changes to vehicle performance or functionality.
For automakers, however, developing the underlying software architecture requires significant investment and specialized engineering expertise. Sharing development work can therefore help reduce costs while allowing companies to redirect resources toward new technologies and customer-facing features.
Nissan and Honda have identified SDV technology as a particularly important area for cooperation because software is increasingly central to vehicle intelligence and electrification.
Part of a Broader Nissan-Honda Partnership
The SDV agreement is part of the broader strategic partnership between Nissan and Honda.
The companies have been exploring areas where closer cooperation could help accelerate their efforts toward carbon neutrality and safer mobility. The latest agreement expands that collaboration into one of the automotive industry’s most important technology areas.
By combining their development capabilities, Nissan and Honda hope to shorten development cycles and improve the efficiency of future vehicle programs.
The companies will continue evaluating additional opportunities to work together while maintaining their respective strengths and brands.
First Applications Expected From 2029
The jointly developed E/E architecture, ECUs and software are planned for use in Nissan and Honda’s next-generation software-defined vehicles beginning in fiscal year 2029.
The move could give both automakers a common technological foundation for future EVs and other connected vehicles while allowing them to differentiate products through their own vehicle designs, features and customer experiences.
As the automotive industry shifts toward centralized vehicle computing and software-driven features, the Nissan-Honda collaboration highlights how traditional automakers are increasingly pooling resources to compete in the rapidly evolving EV and SDV market.
