KATHMANDU: Honda Motor has partnered with India’s Tata Technologies to jointly develop a new vehicle platform as the Japanese automaker looks to reduce development costs, according to Bloomberg.
The new platform will be developed for multiple models, including hybrid and other electrified vehicles. Honda is expected to use the platform in models for Asian and other international markets.
North America will not be among the target markets for vehicles developed on this platform.
The partnership marks the first known collaboration between Honda and an Indian company for vehicle platform development.
Tata Technologies, a subsidiary of India’s Tata Group, provides engineering and IT services to the automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors.
The company confirmed its collaboration with Honda. It said global automakers are increasingly working with strategic partners to speed up vehicle development and improve cost competitiveness.
Honda is also looking to reduce the cost of developing electrified vehicles. In March, the company announced that it would cancel the development of three EV models planned for North America and Japan.
For the fiscal year ending March 2027, Honda expects a loss of around 520 billion yen, or approximately $3.29 billion. The loss is linked to compensation payments to parts suppliers and other expenses.
Honda’s profitability has improved with the weakening Japanese yen. However, reducing the cost of electrified vehicle development remains a major challenge for the company.
