EV Battery Gold Rush – Honda and GS Yuasa JV Announced

Honda Motor Co and GS Yuasa International Ltd. today in Tokyo announced that they have reached a basic agreement toward collaboration for a high-capacity, high-output lithium-ion battery. The two companies will discuss specifics with the goal of establishing a joint venture company by the end of 2023 for battery production methods as well as the establishment of a supply chain for key raw materials and a “highly-efficient” battery production system.

“Honda is striving to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050. Honda and GS Yuasa have already been working together on lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and this new collaboration will further accelerate Honda’s electrification strategies toward the achievement of our carbon neutrality goal,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer of Honda Motor.

The scope of collaborations include:

• Research and development of a high-capacity, high-output lithium-ion battery, primarily for EV use, and the required production methods
• Establishment and management of intellectual properties including patents related to the joint research and development
• Planning for products that utilize technologies resulting from the joint research and development, and planning for the required sales channels
• Designing of an efficient production operation including the supply chain for key raw materials