Honda considers sharing products & tech with Indian automakers to regain scale
Honda Motor Company is considering a significant strategic shift in India as it works to rebuild its presence in a market where its footprint has diminished in recent years. As part of its renewed India roadmap – which includes launching 10 new models by 2030 – the company is exploring partnerships that could see it supply platforms, powertrains, hybrid systems and even software technologies to domestic manufacturers.
This marks a notable departure from Honda’s traditionally independent approach. While global automakers increasingly collaborate to reduce development costs and accelerate product cycles, Honda has long pursued its own path. The company is now reassessing that stance as the economics of electric vehicles, software-defined vehicles and advanced electronics demand greater scale and shared investment.
Although Honda is still defining the extent of what it may offer, possibilities range from badge-engineered models to shared architectures and electrification components. The company’s hybrid technology – considered one of the most refined in the industry – could be a particularly attractive asset for Indian OEMs looking to boost fuel efficiency without committing fully to battery-electric vehicles. Access to Honda’s upcoming ASIMO software operating system, which will underpin future 0 Series EVs, could also form part of potential collaborations.
Industry precedent suggests such partnerships can pay dividends. Alliances like Maruti–Toyota, Renault–Nissan and Skoda–Volkswagen have shown how joint development helps reduce costs and bolster competitiveness. Honda’s willingness to consider similar tie-ups reflects an evolving global landscape and growing pressure from major markets such as the US and China, where competition has intensified sharply.
India is now central to Honda’s global revival plan, a message reinforced at the Japan Mobility Show where the country was highlighted as a key growth pillar. To make its strategy viable, Honda needs rapid scale – and supplying products or technologies to other manufacturers could offer a fast-track solution.
There has been industry chatter about early-stage discussions with Tata Motors, though no formal direction has emerged. What is increasingly evident, however, is that Honda is now open to cooperation that would have been unlikely even a few years ago.
