REE Automotive hasn't made any major announcements since last summer, which isn't surprising given that the Tel Aviv–based manufacturer of the battery-electric, software-defined Class 4 P7 Chassis Cab was granted until December 29 to raise its stock price and regain NASDAQ compliance.
[Related: REE Automotive given 180 days to regain Nasdaq compliance]
With that deadline quickly approaching, REE has announced a new strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and a develop software-defined vehicle (SDV) for the Japanese brand that utilizes REE's existing SDV architecture and x-by-wire technology (XBW).
The companies have already embarked on a one-year evaluation phase in order to convert a Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter electric truck that's powered by REE's zonal SDV architecture and XBW technology. This project is, essentially, Mitsubishi's first major development step of its next-generation commercial vehicles.
And what does REE gain in return? An opportunity to become Mitsubishi's supplier for a scalable platform featuring its advanced technologies.
[Related: Step inside the REE P7-C at the 2025 ACT Expo]
For Mitsubishi, joining forces with REE made sense given that it was lacking a performance-proven, scalable, vehicle platform architecture as well as an ECU design capable of integrating and reducing hardware complexity.
Mitsubishi Fuso, an affiliate of Toyota Motor Corporation, announced a merger last month with Daimler Trucks' Hino Motors to form a new holding company, called Archion. Company officials have not specifically mentioned how this latest collaboration will impact the merger, if it all, and whether or not Hino will also benefit from REE's tech.
[Related: Hino reaches $236 million settlement with CARB]
"We are proud to collaborate with the exceptional team at Mitsubishi Fuso, aligning our shared vision for innovation in next-generation commercial vehicles. Together, we are committed to delivering smarter, safer solutions," said Daniel Barel, co-founder and CEO of REE. "Software-defined vehicles represent a transformative leap, enabling faster development of next-generation commercial vehicles through continuous AI-powered over-the-air (OTA) updates. By leveraging both companies' strengths, we believe that we have a unique opportunity to set a new industry benchmark for commercial vehicles that support autonomous solutions."
By developing SDV technology that minimizes downtime, reduces total cost of ownership, and enables new data-driven revenue streams, REE aims to equip OEMs and fleets with the tools to build smarter, safer, and more connected vehicles.
"We believe that by combining Mitsubishi Fuso's autonomous driving and ZEV technologies with REE's XBW and SDV technologies, we can realize superior logistics solutions," said Hironobu Ando, head of product engineering at Mitsubishi Fuso. "We are very pleased to work together with REE to address social issues such as global warming, traffic accidents, and driver shortages."
