(Honda)
Honda and General Motors are teaming up on autonomous cars.
The Japanese automaker will be chipping in funding and engineering resources to help co-develop a purpose-built self-driving vehicle for GM’s Cruise division, it was announced Wednesday.
Cruise has been testing Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars fitted with self-driving technology in several states, and plans to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service next year.
A version of the car without a steering wheel was revealed in January.
"Honda chose to collaborate with Cruise and General Motors based on their leadership in autonomous and electric vehicle technology and our shared vision of a zero-emissions and zero-collision world," said Honda Executive Vice President and Representative Director COO Seiji Kuraishi in a press release.
Honda is making a $750 million equity investment in Cruise LLC, which is valued at over $14 billion, according to GM, and plans to commit a further $2 billion to the project through 2030.
A teaser rendering of the proposed vehicle accompanying the announcement show that it has an upright, rectangular cabin and blunt front end without a hood, apparently to maximize passenger space.
No technical details or timetable for the vehicle’s launch were been revealed.