Mitsubishi vs. Honda: How the Japanese Compare in EV Invention
As the international automobile industry is changing and moving towards electrification, Japanese car manufacturers, Mitsubishi and Honda, are in a frenzy to produce electric vehicles. Both companies have a sound reputation for reliable, fuel-efficient automobiles, but the approach towards the development of EVs differs on significant grounds.
Mitsubishi Approach towards the Development of EV
Mitsubishi Motors was one of the first movers in the electric vehicle market when it brought out the Mitsubishi i-MiEV way back in 2009. It is a small, all-electric city car, which makes it a first mover. This positions it well for gaining a foothold in the EV market. Since the introduction of the i-MiEV, Mitsubishi has incrementally moved towards electric mobility, but HEVs and PHEVs have dominated pure electric models.
Perhaps, the most significant move Mitsubishi recently made was promoting to adopt EV technology in its sprawling portfolio. It combines its strengths and other resources and technologies of its peers to build even more competitive electric vehicles. Mitsubishi has indicated that, for example, it would need to launch an essential range of new electric vehicles through mid-2020s. This includes the unveiling of the Outlander PHEV in new international markets and the establishment of fully electric crossovers.
While Mitsubishi’s EV portfolio is still relatively limited compared to other automakers, its commitment to hybrid and electric vehicle technologies signals a long-term focus on reducing carbon emissions and offering more sustainable options for consumers.
Honda’s EV Strategy
Honda is one of the largest automobile companies in Japan, but apparently more conservative than Mitsubishi about electric cars. Even though Honda has always branded its company on fuel-efficient ICE vehicles, hybrid cars, and hydrogen-powered vehicles, it has recently taken relatively bigger steps toward the development of EVs.
Honda had long planned out its electric future way back in 2021, wherein it said that by 2040, all the new cars sold around the world will be electrified-from pure battery electric vehicles to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, and also hybrid vehicles. The first big step for Honda in the fully electric vehicle market was the compact electric city car designed for the European market called the Honda e. An intriguing retro-style design and tech-savvy take on how to go about EVs-but of course, an extremely niche product in Honda’s global lineup.
The latest development in this story has Honda concentrating all its energies towards building a new generation of electric vehicles by founding its new electric platform along with mass-market models. At the same time, it stated that it would work with General Motors for that company to team up with it in shared development that would benefit from a low-cost GM flexible platform for which this would place it in a relatively easy position to generate EVs and that the development itself should bring down costs with most to incur upon acquiring an electric car.
Mitsubishi and Honda are both highly interested in the future of electric mobility but very in a different approach as it is the case, wherein each has a different strategy and approach toward the development of EVs.
Vehicle Lineups: Mitsubishi is particularly very strong on PHEVs like the Outlander PHEV. They have been focusing much more of their attention on full electric vehicle development with a plethora of models varieties such as the Honda e. Its own lineup of EVs of Mitsubishi still seems a bit more conservative, and more PHEVs are being given out relative to the Honda that goes the distance in going forward all-electric.
Collaborations and Partnerships: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance would help Mitsubishi acquire common resources and technologies to develop EVs for Mitsubishi. Honda also had its collaboration with General Motors in making electric vehicles a whole lot cheaper. Both collaborations allowed the companies to come from the same ground for a consolidation of pool resource and skills on making the EVs better and much faster.
Market Focus: Mitsubishi is nearly all hybrid and crossovers. Honda has done a little bit of blending, for example, with the urban city car Honda e and larger EVs coming. Honda seems to be building compact urban cars and mass-market electric variants that hopefully will be customer-friendly enough for an increasingly wide market.
Technology and Innovation: Honda has assured to be one of the most modern technologies with electric cars. Its car, Honda e is provided with in-cabin high technology digital display and connectivity. Mitsubishi has also been selling hybrid technologies and energy-saving powertrain. The company has been targeting electric option but has not offered the flagship model of electric car to take on Honda’s lead in producing electric cars.
Challenges and Opportunities
Pure competition, the electric vehicle market also is troubling Nissan and also Mitsubishi. As they opt for hybrid business strategies and then struggle at large with the quick and swift uptake of pure electric worldwide. They must change the game in time so that all the future models they are presenting them at different places become absolutely electric so that they don’t fall behind in such an ever-strung environmental concern on such automobiles coupled with the growing demand in that scenario as well.
Honda is even more committed to an all-electric future but faces exactly the same challenge as others. Mass-market EVs will cost the investment in battery technology and its production ability; however, partner with GM might make all the difference for Honda to put electric cars cheaper and efficient enough.
Conclusion:All this aside, a lot remains to be accomplished in the EV marketplace by both Mitsubishi and Honda. Since the demand for electric vehicles will rise only in the near future everywhere around the globe, Japanese automobile manufacturers are able to seize an opportunity to utilize their strong points on stable engineering and reliability so they can become one of the major players in this newly booming market for electric automobiles. While they improve on electric cars, much does differ in how Mitsubishi takes it to a level Honda does. Contrast best manifests between putting the major focus at hybrid and plug-in hybrids by Mitsubishi and, more to its credit, going totally electric with a car’s approach at Honda. Well again, so it seems that both make for a pretty good standing for the acceptance of electric technology as one of the driving forces for future autos. And of course, where each will innovate from will be quite interesting with changes speeding in this landscape of electric mobility.
Source: Automotive Industry Reports, 2024