Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda and Hitachi team up for electric motor company

Honda and Hitachi working together on a new electric venture, which will develop and manufacture new motors

Honda Clarity - front tracking

Honda and fellow Japanese multinational Hitachi have today announced the establishment of a new venture company, which will develop, manufacture and sell motors for electric vehicles.

Best electric cars on sale 2017

Hitachi Automotive Systems and Honda entered a Memorandum of Understanding in February, before signing a joint agreement in March. Today marks the official establishment of the new company – Hitachi Automotive Motor Systems Limited.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Both conglomerates have put forward 5 billion yen – roughly £34 million each – with Hitachi taking up a 51 per cent stake compared to Honda’s 49 per cent. The company will be based on the existing premises of Hitachi Automotive Systems in Hitachinaka-shi.

It’s not the first alternative propulsion venture company Honda has invested in. Earlier this year the firm announced a tie up with General Motors to create Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC, investing a similar amount and targeting a 2020 release of a new fuel-cell system.

Neither Honda nor Hitachi has placed a timeframe on the electric motors it will now build, only stating that it will “respond to the growing global demand from automakers for electric motors that combine the expertise of the two companies”.

Read our round up of the best electric cars here.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand
Cyberster Black - front 3/4

New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand

MG boss thinks special editions like this might be the ticket to keeping up demand for the electric sports car
News
10 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025