General Motors and Honda to co-develop affordable electric cars

General Motors and Honda have announced they are collaborating to create low-cost electric vehicles (EVs).

The first models are planned to hit the North American market in 2027, utilising GM’s Ultium battery system, and likely to be wearing badges from both Honda and Chevrolet.

The companies say the partnership will result in a “series of affordable electric vehicles based on a new global architecture,” suggesting the EVs will be created to accommodate right-hand-drive format used in markets such as Japan and Australia.

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GM's Ultium battery pack.

Compact crossovers will be part of the project, with the aim to produce “millions of EVs” from global production.

“GM and Honda will share our best technology, design and manufacturing strategies to deliver affordable and desirable EVs on a global scale, including our key markets in North America, South America and China,” said GM boss Mary Barra.

“By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own.”

With GM only offering the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up and Corvette in Australia, it’s likely the jointly-made EVs would be offered here through Honda. The Japanese brand is targeting 40 per cent of its sales to be EV and hydrogen-powered models across major markets by 2030.

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However, it’s not clear how the “affordable EVs” will fit into Honda Australia’s plans to go upmarket, as it aims to reposition the brand as a premium offering – with prices to match.

The two carmakers have been working on zero-emission projects for almost a decade, exploring hydrogen and battery propulsion since 2013, as well as autonomous technologies more recently.