Gasgoo Munich- Honda and GAC Group have officially signed a strategic renewal agreement for their joint venture, GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., according to a July 20 report by Gasgoo. The partners will maintain their existing 50:50 equity structure while extending their collaboration through 2038.
Established in July 1998 as Honda's first vehicle joint venture in China, GAC Honda has been an industry pioneer in areas ranging from "global model synchronization" and "4S" dealership services to low-carbon manufacturing. To date, the company has sold more than 11 million vehicles, with a portfolio spanning sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and the full spectrum of new energy models.
Image source: GAC Honda
China is now the world's largest automotive market, where rapid iterations in electrification and intelligent technology have fueled fierce competition. Amid this profound shift, GAC Honda is navigating a critical window of transformation—moving from a model of "one-way technology transfer" to one of "two-way empowerment and deep collaborative R&D."
During this year's Beijing Auto Show, GAC Honda Deputy General Manager Lin Zhibin and Liu Xiaorui, deputy director of product planning, revealed that 2026 is positioned as a year for "consolidation and buildup." The company is implementing a rigorous internal "horse-racing" mechanism for products, actively canceling projects that fail to meet core competitiveness standards to focus intensely on R&D breakthroughs. Under the roadmap, 2027 will mark an intensive cycle for new product launches, with three all-new models covering internal combustion, hybrid, and pure electric technologies.
This strategic renewal signals a deeper strategic alignment between Honda and GAC Group across core dimensions including product definition, R&D, and supply chain collaboration. Both shareholders aim to leverage their respective technological and resource strengths to accelerate the reshaping of GAC Honda's core competitiveness and achieve a full transition to the new energy track. From importing global models to leading local R&D, and from receiving technology to co-creating it—GAC Honda is leveraging its 28-year foundation and a user base of millions to open a new chapter of high-quality development in the "Joint Venture 2.0" era.
