Honda & Mythic Co-Develop AI SoC for Software-Defined Vehicles | 2026
- Today announced a collaboration with Mythic, a U.S.-based technology company, to co-develop system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology for its forthcoming software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
- The move includes a strategic investment by Honda Xcelerator Ventures in Mythic, recognizing the company’s expertise in analog computing and its potential to address the growing demands for...
- Honda’s focus on SDVs is driven by a broader strategy to address environmental and safety challenges, with intelligent technology identified as a key enabler.
TOKYO, Japan – – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Today announced a collaboration with Mythic, a U.S.-based technology company, to co-develop system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology for its forthcoming software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The partnership signifies Honda’s deepening commitment to advanced AI computing and energy efficiency in the automotive sector.
The move includes a strategic investment by Honda Xcelerator Ventures in Mythic, recognizing the company’s expertise in analog computing and its potential to address the growing demands for high-performance, low-power AI processing. Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Honda’s research and development subsidiary, will work directly with Mythic on the SoC development.
Honda’s focus on SDVs is driven by a broader strategy to address environmental and safety challenges, with intelligent technology identified as a key enabler. The development of high-performance SoCs is considered essential for realizing the full potential of these vehicles. The company is actively researching digital computing technologies and is now exploring neuromorphic SoC technology, inspired by the human brain, to further enhance computing capabilities.
Mythic distinguishes itself through its analog compute-in-memory (CiM) technology, which minimizes data movement during computation, resulting in both high performance and energy efficiency. The company’s software development kit (SDK) further supports the implementation of these technologies. This approach contrasts with conventional digital architectures, offering a potential pathway to significantly improved performance-per-watt ratios – up to 100x better than industry standard GPUs, according to Mythic.
Honda’s investment in Mythic is intended to secure access to these innovative technologies and provide flexibility in responding to evolving technological landscapes. Honda R&D will integrate Mythic’s technology into its AI computing functions, leveraging its own expertise in AI model design and electronic control unit research and development. This integration aims to accelerate the development of SoCs for next-generation SDVs, further optimizing both computing performance and energy efficiency.
The collaboration comes as the automotive industry increasingly prioritizes software-defined vehicles. These vehicles rely on centralized electronic architectures, consolidating multiple electronic control units (ECUs) into a single, more powerful ECU. This core ECU manages critical functions such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Automated Driving (AD), powertrain control, and comfort features. The demands placed on this central ECU necessitate SoCs capable of delivering significantly higher processing power without substantially increasing power consumption.
In , Honda announced an agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a high-performance SoC for SDVs, targeting AI performance of 2,000 TOPS combined with power efficiency of 20 TOPS/W. This SoC is slated for use in future models of the “Honda 0 (Zero) Series,” Honda’s new electric vehicle series, launching in the late 2020s. The partnership with Mythic appears to be a complementary effort, potentially broadening Honda’s technological toolkit and accelerating its progress in this critical area.
The development of these advanced SoCs is also linked to Honda’s ASIMO OS operating system, which will debut with the Honda 0 Series EVs later this year. Mahito Shikama, Honda executive chief engineer leading the company’s SDV development, was recently honored with the MotorTrend Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Innovator Award at CES , recognizing his contributions to automotive software innovation, including his work on the 2021 Honda Legend Hybrid EX, the world’s first commercially available Level 3 automated vehicle.
Beyond Honda’s internal efforts, the broader industry is focused on accelerating the deployment of AI-defined vehicles. Panasonic Automotive Systems is also actively working to develop Software-Defined Vehicles, utilizing Arm Zena Compute Subsystems. This industry-wide push underscores the growing importance of AI and advanced computing in the future of automotive technology.
Honda’s investment in Mythic and its ongoing collaboration with Renesas demonstrate a multi-faceted approach to securing the technological foundation for its SDV strategy. The company aims to deliver a mobility experience optimized for individual customers, leveraging the power of AI and advanced computing to enhance safety, efficiency, and overall vehicle performance. The anticipated benefits of these advancements are expected to begin appearing in Honda vehicles by , as the company continues to develop and refine its advanced driver-assistive technology systems.