Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Co. said Thursday they will seek to expand their business tie-up in North America including sharing vehicle platforms and cooperating in research and development.

Honda and GM said they have signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding toward forming an alliance in the major auto market and explore the possibility of working together also in the areas of connected car technologies and procuring parts.

The announcement came after the automakers agreed in April to jointly develop two new electric vehicles for Honda at GM plants, a part of their ongoing partnership on electrification.

Seiji Kuraishi, executive vice president of Honda, said in a statement that through the alliance, Honda and GM will be able to "achieve substantial cost efficiencies in North America" which will help them to invest in future technology.

Since 2013 they have been cooperating on the development of fuel cells, and electric, self-driving and shared vehicles.

Honda also joined GM's battery module development efforts in 2018.

==Kyodo

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