Earlier this month, Honda Motor Corporation CEO Toshihiro Mibe said that both Honda and Nissan are close to entering a partnership. While it's not the merger that would have seen Nissan and Honda become the fourth-largest automaker in the world, the rumored partnership will reportedly result in brands sharing ECUs.

Fast forward to near the end of July, Honda and Nissan are both considering jointly developing an operating system for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). According to sources who are close to the matter, the OS will be based on Nissan's technology.

With SDVs now fast becoming standard in new automobiles, thanks to China's technology boom, cutting-edge software is now one of the growing aspects legacy automakers need to catch up on. Combined with the fact that Chinese brands continue to develop and come up with high-tech vehicles, Japanese automakers have started to take notice.

Since a vehicle's OS is now one of the core technologies of next-generation automobiles, the OS also serves as an important basis for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and semi-autonomous driving capability. With Nissan and Honda looking to jointly develop the next-generation vehicle software, both brands stand to benefit from it, while also improving development efficiency and lessening costs.

In recent years, Chinese brands have leapfrogged Japanese brands when it comes to vehicle software, such as infotainment and wireless connectivity features. But it is perhaps in ADAS and semi-autonomous driving features where Chinese brands excelled. If Honda and Nissan can work together to make their own next-generation software, both brands stand to benefit greatly.

For now, no exact specifics were mentioned by Honda or Nissan. But given that both brands are considering joint development, perhaps they are still discussing important matters regarding the new OS.

Back in 2024, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly discuss a framework for further intelligence and electrification of automobiles, including advancing vehicle OS. But since the merger didn't happen, part of the brands' plans fell through as well.

But with both brands now talking once more to jointly develop OS for SDVs, perhaps both automakers see they need to work together rather than compete with one another since Chinese automakers continue to dominate and excel in vehicle technology.

Sources: The Japan Times and Automotive News