Market
August 13, 2024
Across the Pacific: The power of three
Written by Gabriella Vagnini
This is not the usual example of car manufacturing partnerships that you find in the history of the automotive industry, but it’s definitely one to take note of.
Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi are collaborating with a shared purpose to shape the future of their automotive manufacturing. Their goal is not only to ensure profitability but also to create environmentally friendly processes. They are exploring ways to incorporate recycled metals into their products, striving for carbon neutrality and aiming to surpass China’s advancements in this field.
They say it’s not just a matter of reducing costs. It’s also about protecting the earth while reducing the usage of raw materials. So, what distinguished feature enables this cooperation? They each bring in their own individual know-how and capabilities, and collectively, they are expected to bring forth new ideas to produce cars that are more fuel-efficient and friendly to the environment.
Nissan
Nissan brings to the table its leadership in electric vehicles. The Nissan Leaf is one of the bestselling EVs worldwide. They also have a strong commitment to sustainability, as demonstrated through their Nissan Green Program, which focuses on recycling and the use of sustainable materials.
Honda
Honda’s strength lies in their diverse product line. Not only do they manufacture cars, but also motorcycles, power equipment and engines as well. This means that Honda has also a large range of metals in its products, allowing them to better understand how to utilize various recycled metals. Their focus has also been on lightweight materials. The company is considered a leader in using lightweight materials like aluminum, which helps reinforce the much-needed contributions of aluminum to the recycled metals industry.
Mitsubishi
Like Honda, Mitsubishi (which is 34% owned by Nissan) brings to the table a diverse product line which includes industrial manufacturing, like shipbuilding and aerospace. This means that Mitsubishi has experience in advanced metalworking technology. As aerospace focus is on lightweight materials including metals, this would further help the quality and types of scrap metals being produced. In addition to the industrial manufacturing, Mitsubishi is also known for their electronics and battery technology, with the focus on the development of plug in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). The materials used in these technologies, such as rare earth elements and specialty metals, assists with the supply to the recycled metals industry.
By pooling their strengths, these companies will focus on smelting metal in ways that save energy and reduce carbon emissions during the production of parts. They are also collectively working to shorten manufacturing times while producing cars that align with the preferences of environmentally conscious buyers.
RMU will keep you updated on their advances.
