Major collaboration looks one step closer to fruition
Acura would be built alongside Cadillac Lyriq
A previously announced plan for General Motors and Honda to sell a pair of the former’s upcoming EVs under the latter’s name is one step closer to production, says a new report. that will see a Honda-branded EV built at one GM plant and an Acura built alongside Cadillacs at another.
The report from Automotive News cites “two people familiar with the plans,” as saying that production of the Honda crossover is set to begin in 2023 at a GM plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, which is currently home to the Chevrolet Blazer and Equinox. While both are currently gas powered only, this would suggest an electric version of one or both of these crossovers is possible.
An Acura crossover is set to start production in 2024, at the former Saturn plant in Spring Hill, TN, that is currently home to the Cadillac XT6. GM has already announced plans to spend US $2 billion at the facility to build the Cadillac Lyriq there, suggesting that the Acura SUV could be a close sibling to that EV.
Both new EVs will be powered by GM’s Ultium Propulsion System, including battery packs and electric motors. GM is planning to produce 30 new EVs of its own by 2025, with two-thirds of those to be sold in North America including the Lyriq and the GMC Hummer EV.
The report said that GM declined to comment on the future plans, while a spokesperson from Honda said only that the automaker “looks forward to sharing new information on our North American electrification strategy later this year.”
GM and Honda have had a long-running relationship that has included powertrain sharing, partnership on fuel cell development, and now this collaboration on vehicles for North America including EVs and other R&D and vehicle platform development.
