Honda launches China

Japan’s Honda Motor said on Tuesday it is introducing a new electric vehicle brand in China, and will use components from local companies including CATL, Huawei, and iFlyTek as it looks to adapt to significant changes in the highly competitive Chinese car market. The upcoming new models under the Ye series will be equipped with Huawei’s xScene liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and the two companies are exploring more potential collaborations, according to Igarashi Masayuki, head of Honda’s China operations, financial media outlet Caixin reported. The Japanese carmaker said it has also partnered with artificial intelligence firm iFlyTek in order to bring advanced conversational AI capabilities into its cabins, while being open to more joint efforts with Chinese companies in other fields such as autonomous driving. In a similar move, Toyota has reportedly reached a deal with Huawei to develop assisted driving functions built upon the latter’s computing platform for its Chinese models. The first two models under Honda’s Ye series will be launched later this year, followed by another four by 2027, and will target a more premium segment than the existing e:N lineup, as part of the firm’s plan to sell only EVs in China by 2035. The company’s sales declined 10.1% to roughly 1.2 million units last year and it is planning to cut vehicle output by 20% in China, Nikkei reported last month. [Honda announcement, Caixin, in Chinese]