Nissan and Honda Developing Joint Platform for Software-Defined Vehicles

Nissan and Honda are deepening their collaboration on software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The two Japanese automakers have signed an agreement to jointly develop and standardize core electronic control units and their corresponding software. This shared E/E architecture is scheduled to debut in both companies' next-generation SDVs starting in fiscal year 2029. 

Shared Control Units and Software

The partnership centers on several core Electronic Control Units (ECUs), which will be built on common specifications moving forward. In parallel, Nissan and Honda plan to co-develop and standardize key components of the software stack.

This includes the in-vehicle operating system, critical middleware components, and vehicle control software. Various features for each automaker's next-generation vehicles will then be built on top of this shared technical foundation.

As a result, the partnership goes beyond individual software applications to cover foundational elements of the electronics and software architecture for future vehicles.

To achieve this, both automakers plan to pool their respective R&D resources and technical expertise. Establishing common standards is expected to streamline development processes and bring new technologies to market faster.