Honda Motor Co President Toshihiro Mibe expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Nissan Motor Co and its alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp during a general shareholders meeting on Thursday, after merger talks with Nissan collapsed earlier this year.
Asked about the likelihood of revisiting a merger with Nissan, which fell through due to disagreements over management structure, Mibe said it was not possible "for the time being."
Honda and Nissan, Japan's second- and third-largest automakers, as well as Mitsubishi Motors have carried on talks regarding a possible collaboration on the electrification of automobiles, among other areas. Honda and Nissan are also considering cooperation in the United States, in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies.
"We want to secure a leading competitive edge in the industry by maximizing the merits brought on by the collaboration," Mibe was quoted as saying, according to the exchanges at the meeting provided by Honda.
Honda and Nissan revealed in December plans to begin merger talks under a holding company, aiming to share the financial burden of developing electric vehicles and software to better compete with global rivals such as Tesla Inc. of the United States and China's BYD Co. But the talks broke down less than two months later.
© KYODO
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sakurasuki
Work together, which one of them as a subsidiary?
https://www.techinasia.com/news/honda-moves-to-make-nissan-a-subsidiary-sources-say
Garlic eater
Here's an analysis of why there is unlikely to be any benefit to Nissan becoming a subsidiary of Honda:
Redundant product lines (similar types of vehicles), Nissan's debt, antitrust reviews, and dilution of Honda's brand value.
The only reason Honda would do this is if Nissan were collapsing and being offered at a fire-sale price, and Honda wanted specific assets (e.g., manufacturing capacity, EV IP, or dealer networks), not as a long-term growth strategy.
ALmost
Combining Honda with Nissan/Mitsubishi may help Nissa/Mitsubishi but I fear it would hurt Honda's reputation and trust in their brand. Mr. Mibe, please think this through carefully. Nissan and Mitsubishi make decent vehicles but Honda has a special place in people's minds and hearts. In the States there is a reason Hondas retain their value even after many years and miles of ownership. Perhaps the best resale value in the industry. We trust Honda. Don't ruin it please.
Rikidozan88
Ford should buy up Nissan. This way “American” cars will be sold in Japan and help tick the checkbox.
HopeSpringsEternal
Reality is if autonomy takes off, which it will, need for car ownership will massively decrease as who needs to own, maintain, insure, parking, etc., when you can have the 'perfect' AI driver pick you up anytime, anyplace?!
Mobility will simply be a service, that's future, Nissan and Mitsubishi will not be relevant etc., Honda has a chance
Garlic eater
No thanks. Personal hygiene is an important consideration for too many people, the only ones who will go for that are slobs.
HopeSpringsEternal
Think again, as people prefer the time savings of being driven to their location more safely and it'll be easy to have miniature AI cleaning robots to maintain hygiene
Conventional cars will be like horses, strictly a hobby, sometime this century in all 'civilized' countries