Honda and Nissan Close to Agreement on Joint Development of Next-Generation Automotive ECUs

Despite the collapse of merger negotiations last year, Honda and Nissan continue to deepen their operational collaboration, with reports indicating the two Japanese automakers are in the final stages of talks to jointly develop next-generation automotive ECUs.

ECU — Electronic Control Unit — serves as the “brain” of a modern vehicle’s electrical architecture. By adjusting ECU-executed programs, automakers can alter how in-vehicle systems and equipment behave, making it a cornerstone technology for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV).

According to Japanese media outlets Yomiuri Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun, Honda and Nissan plan to standardize ECUs to reduce component costs. A formal agreement is expected to be reached this summer, with the jointly developed ECUs rolling out across both companies’ vehicle lineups starting in 2029.

Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan holds a stake, will also join the collaboration framework, expanding the potential scale and impact of the initiative.