Honda is changing its approach to new car development. The Japanese automaker has commissioned Tata Technologies Ltd. to create an entirely new car platform. If confirmed, this would be the first time Honda has outsourced the development of a car architecture to a third-party Indian engineering company on a virtually "turnkey" basis.
This is not about a joint model or a rebranding of an existing car. Tata Technologies is part of the Tata group, but it does not manufacture cars — the company is engaged in engineering development and digital solutions for the automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. It is to them, it is claimed, that the full cycle of designing the new platform has been entrusted.
The architecture is being developed for several future Honda models and will be able to support gasoline engines, hybrid powertrains, and all-electric versions. Which specific cars will be the first to receive the new platform, their release dates, and target markets have not yet been disclosed.
Honda itself has not confirmed the existence of a specific project but stated that the company constantly considers opportunities for cooperation with external partners to enhance competitiveness. Tata Technologies did not provide comments.
This step is directly related to Honda's new strategy. For the fiscal year ending in March 2026, the company reported a net loss of 423.9 billion yen (about 2.8 billion dollars), driven by a revision of its investment program in electric vehicles.