GM, Cruise, Honda – 2026 Autonomous Ridehail in Japan

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GM (NYSE:GM), Cruise and Honda today announced a memorandum of understanding to establish a new joint-venture company to launch a driverless ridehail service in Japan starting in early 2026. The so-called Origin vehicle developed by GM, Cruise and Honda will be made in the US. GM will manufacture ~500 Origins for the launch of this new JV at Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Michigan, said to be the launchpad for GM’s multi-brand EV and AV future.*

“GM has always been invested in defining the future of transportation and that’s more true today than ever,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “The benefits of AVs – from safety to accessibility – are too profound to ignore and through this important partnership with Cruise and Honda, we’re bringing forward innovation that leverages our expertise in cutting-edge software and hardware to help more people around the world get where they need to go.”

Interior view of the Origin – click for more.

Japan, it’s thought, has the potential to be one of the largest driverless ridehail markets in the world because its large cities have high demand for taxis. The region also has a growing need for new forms of transportation, with ongoing driver shortages and an increasing need for accessible forms of transportation for an ageing population. To address these needs, the JV will leverage the Origin, co-developed specifically for autonomous transportation. The vehicle allows for six passengers to sit face-to-face, enabling customers to comfortably travel in a new way, the companies said in a joint release.

“Honda is striving to create the ‘joy and freedom of mobility.’ Through our driverless ride service with Cruise and GM, we will enable customers in Japan to experience a new value of mobility, improve the quality of their mobility experiences and offer the joy of mobility,” said Global CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe. “This will be a major step toward the realization of an advanced mobility society. Providing this service in central Tokyo where the traffic environment is complex will be a great challenge, however, by working jointly with Cruise and GM, Honda will exert further efforts to make it a reality.”

* The Cruise Origin is scheduled to be on display for the first time in Japan at the Honda booth at the JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023 at Tokyo Big Site. Public days are 28 October through 5 November 2023).