Honda, Nissan plan shared car software by 2029

Honda and Nissan are moving toward a formal agreement to co-develop a shared operating system and onboard computer for future vehicles, with a potential rollout as early as 2029. The collaboration aims to spread the high costs of software-defined vehicle development between the two automakers and improve competitiveness in a rapidly evolving software-centric market. Officials have signaled that no binding deal has yet been reached, and discussions are described as exploring potential areas of collaboration under their existing strategic partnership, with Mitsubishi Motors also involved in evaluating the joint platform. The talks come after the collapse of earlier merger discussions between Honda and Nissan, underscoring a preference for collaboration over a full corporate combination. Industry observers note that a common software stack could allow both companies to maintain vehicle differentiation while sharing core technological infrastructure. If finalized, the shared system would mark a significant shift in how Japanese automakers approach software and electronics-heavy SDVs, potentially setting a template for cost-sharing across the sector.