Is Honda owned by GM?
No. Honda is not owned by General Motors. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is an independent Japanese automaker with a broad base of investors; GM does not hold a controlling stake or ownership in Honda. The two companies have a history of collaboration on technology and vehicle programs, but they remain separate corporate entities.
Ownership and corporate structure
Here are the essential facts about how Honda is owned and governed, and how that differs from General Motors.
- Honda is a publicly traded company with ownership dispersed among institutional and individual investors; there is no single owner that controls Honda.
- Honda has its own independent board of directors and executive leadership, accountable to Honda’s shareholders.
- General Motors does not own Honda, and Honda does not own GM; the companies operate as separate, competing automakers with occasional formal collaborations.
In short, Honda remains an autonomous corporate entity with ownership spread across many investors, distinct from GM’s corporate structure.
Past and current collaboration between Honda and GM
Beyond ownership, the two automakers have pursued multiple joint efforts aimed at advancing technology, electrification, and mobility solutions.
- Late 1990s: Honda and GM began a broad technology collaboration focused on advanced propulsion and hydrogen fuel-cell technology, among other areas.
- 2020: The companies announced a multi-year strategic alliance to co-develop next-generation electric vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure, including sharing an EV platform and related powertrain technology.
- 2021–2024: The partnership extended to North American electrification programs, with Honda’s Prologue electric SUV reportedly built on GM’s Ultium-based platform and battery technology.
- Ongoing: The collaboration covers areas such as autonomous driving, connectivity, and other mobility technologies, while both brands maintain independent ownership and branding.
These collaborations demonstrate practical cooperation without creating an ownership or parent-subsidiary relationship.
Impact for consumers and the market
For consumers, the Honda-GM partnership can translate into shared technology and more rapid electrification, including access to GM’s Ultium battery technology in certain Honda models. This collaboration helps Honda accelerate its EV rollout while preserving Honda’s brand identity and corporate independence.
For shoppers, a notable example is the Honda Prologue, a North American electric SUV whose development involved GM’s platform and battery technology, illustrating how the alliance translates into tangible products on the market.
In all cases, the relationship remains one of collaboration, not ownership—Honda stays its own company, and GM remains a separate automaker.
Summary
Is Honda owned by GM? No. Honda operates as an independent company with dispersed ownership among investors, while GM and Honda maintain a collaborative partnership on technology and vehicle development. This arrangement allows both companies to share specific platforms and innovations—such as GM’s Ultium-based EV architecture for certain Honda models—without altering their separate ownership or corporate identities.
