Paul Lienert

(Reuters) – Honda Motor Co intends to produce millions of electric cars (EVs) in 2030 by using three dedicated platforms. One platform will be developed jointly with U.S. counterpart General Motors Co (NYSE) a Japanese executive said.

Shinji Aoyama is Honda’s global head for electrification. He told Reuters that Honda will launch an electric mini-commercial vehicle in Japan by 2024. It will be built using a small EV platform. In North America, a full-size model will be available in 2026 on a larger platform.

For other models, both platforms will be utilized.

Aoyama spoke in video conference and stated that a third platform which he called “medium-sized” will be used by General Motors starting in 2027.

Both companies stated in April that they will jointly create “affordable electric cars” for the global market, but provided few details.

Aoyama stated that it was not clear whether the vehicles will follow Honda’s design or GM’s platforms.

He said, “But we haven’t decided which plants or what will be produced.” “But, we will share the bill for manufacturing to enable cars to be made at any” Honda plant or GM plant.

GM will build two electric premium SUVs for Honda North America in the 2024. They are based on the EV platform which underpins GM’s Cadillac Lyriq.

Aoyama stated that Honda had agreed to use GM’s next-generation Ultium batteries, although the details have yet to be finalized. He said that the Japanese automaker does not intend to join GM’s Ultium Battery joint venture with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution.

Honda said that by 2030 it will have two million global electric vehicles, which includes mid-size models developed in partnership with GM.

Aoyoma stated that Honda plans to produce 750,000-8800,000.000 electric cars in North America by 2030. This is similar to what happens in China. There will also be another 400,000-500,000 units in Japan and other markets.