It has not been a kind year for Nissan. In the midst of production halts, struggling sales, and mass layoffs, it was reported by several automotive publications that an anonymous Nissan executive told the Financial Times that the Japanese carmaker has, “12 to 14 months” to survive.
That statement has brought about a lot of speculation and uncertainty about Nissan’s long-term future, but according to a report from Nikkei Asia and Motor1, Nissan may be exploring its salvation through a merger with Honda.
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The report did not name any specific sources, and neither party has made an official comment about any new future team-ups. However, Nikkei Asia did mention that Honda and Nissan would operate under a completely new holding company.
Interestingly, Nissan also owns a 24% stake in another Japanese juggernaut, Mitsubishi, and the trio of Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi have already agreed to collaborate on new EV technology and ICE models. In the past year, Chinese carmakers like BYD and Geely have pushed Honda and Nissan’s backs to the wall, surpassing the pair in global sales. While Honda and Nissan still remain in the top 10, the need to innovate and elevate is apparent and duly urgent with the quick rise of Chinese competitors.
The merger has the potential to uplift Honda while breathing new life into Nissan’s operations. While no official announcements and statements have been made, the merger is definitely in the realm of reality.
