Honda's solo act turns risky in alliance-happy car industry
It is the only major Japanese carmaker without a strategic partner; analysts question its go-it-alone strategy
Tokyo
HONDA Motor Co's go-it-alone strategy looks increasingly risky as an alliance-happy car industry scales up to cope with the soaring investment needed for self-driving vehicles, electrified power trains, connected-car technologies and artificial intelligence.
In the latest industry tie-up, Toyota Motor Corp and Mazda Motor Corp on Friday announced plans to jointly invest in a US$1.6 billion assembly plant in the US with the capacity to produce 300,000 Toyota Corollas and a new Mazda crossover model starting 2021. Toyota will acquire about 5 per cent in Mazda, which will hold a 0.25 per cent in the bigger automaker. The duo will also combine engineering efforts on electric vehicle development and car-networking know-how.
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