Nissan Motor and Honda Motor said on August 31 they will jointly develop standardised electronic control units and software for software-defined vehicles entering the market from fiscal 2029, deepening collaboration on advanced car technology. Under the deal, they will share standardised parts in core ECUs as well as software, seeking faster development cycles, more efficient investment and economies of scale once production begins. The agreement does not name specific models or electric vehicles and stems from talks that began in 2024, more than a year after the companies abandoned merger talks. Software has become a central battleground as cars add autonomous-driving and connected features, with European groups including Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis also cooperating on shared operating systems, while Nissan and Honda face pressure from Toyota and Chinese makers such as BYD. The pair will keep exploring collaboration in areas including zero-emissions and traffic safety, and Mitsubishi Motors said it was considering joining the effort.