TOKYO, March 4 (Reuters) – Japan’s Sony Corp (6758.T) and Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) said on Friday they would pair up to develop and sell battery-powered electric vehicles, and said they were open to bringing in other partners.
The companies said in a statement they would form a joint venture this year and aim to begin selling the first model in 2025. Honda will be responsible for manufacturing the first model, while Sony will develop the mobility service platform, they said.
The companies did not reveal financial details of the tie-up.
During a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said although he is not thinking about taking the joint venture public immediately, he would not dismiss that as among the options to grow the firm.
The announcement comes as the electronics maker was seeking to further its ambitions to become a key player in next-generation automobiles, while automakers like Honda are under pressure to make carbon-free cars as well as vehicles equipped with features beyond traditional means of transportation.
At the same time, those tech companies face challenges of meeting rigorous safety regulations for vehicles, and making cars capable of withstanding sometimes difficult driving conditions. Yoshida announced in January a plan to create a new company, Sony Mobility, saying it was exploring a commercial launch of electric vehicles.
Although its once-dominant position in consumer electronics has been eroded by Asian rivals like South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS), Sony still has an arsenal of sophisticated technology in areas such as sensors critical to autonomous driving.
Competition within the electric vehicle market is intensifying as well. Asked about how the joint venture would fend off challenges from competitors, Mibe said he wants it to “create a chemical reaction” that exceeds customers’ expectations.
