Nissan and Honda sign joint development agreement to standardize SDV core ECUs and software
Nissan and Honda have signed a joint development agreement to standardize core ECUs and software for next-generation software-defined vehicles, with deployment planned from fiscal year 2029.
- Fiscal year 2029
What Happened
Nissan and Honda have concluded a joint development agreement to standardize multiple electronic control units (ECUs), along with the in-vehicle operating system, key middleware components, and vehicle control software for next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The standardized E/E architecture is planned for application in both companies' next-generation SDVs starting in fiscal year 2029. The agreement aims to combine the two automakers' engineering expertise to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
- High-performance main ECUs (High Performance Computers) using SoCs
- Zone ECUs that oversee each vehicle area
- In-vehicle operating system
- Key parts of the middleware
- Vehicle control software
The companies said the software domain centered on SDVs is key to vehicle intelligence and electrification, and is an important area of collaboration given the rapid pace of technological innovation and the need to strengthen competitiveness through improved R&D speed and investment efficiency. By standardizing these foundational technologies, Nissan and Honda aim to reduce development costs and achieve greater economies of scale. They will continue to explore collaboration opportunities to accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality and zero traffic fatalities.
Fiscal year 2029
Both companies' next-generation SDVs
Why this matters
This collaboration lets Nissan and Honda share the costly work of developing core vehicle electronics and software, aiming to reduce development costs and gain economies of scale. The standardized SDV architecture is planned for both companies' vehicles from fiscal year 2029, supporting their broader goals of carbon neutrality and zero traffic fatalities. It is part of an ongoing strategic partnership between the two automakers.
Terms in This Story
- ECU
- Electronic control unit, a small computer in a vehicle that controls specific functions such as engine, brakes, or infotainment.
- SDV
- Software-defined vehicle, a car whose features and functions are largely controlled and updated through software rather than fixed hardware.
- E/E architecture
- Electrical and electronic architecture, the overall design of a vehicle's electronic systems and how they communicate with each other.
- SoC
- System on a chip, an integrated circuit that contains all components of a computer on a single chip.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.