Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., and Mitsubishi Motors have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to discuss a potential merger. The integration plan includes the creation of a joint holding company to improve its position in the electric vehicle (EV) market and compete with Tesla and Chinese manufacturers. The goal is to achieve combined annual sales of 30 trillion yen and operating profits of over 3 trillion yen. Discussions are expected to be completed by June 2025, with the holding company planned to launch by August 2026. Honda and Nissan shares will be delisted between July and August 2026, coinciding with the formation of the holding company, which will be listed on the stock exchange.
Marking the announcement, Nissan Director, President, CEO and Representative Executive Officer Makoto Uchida said: 'Today marks a pivotal moment as we begin discussions on business integration that has the potential to shape our future. If realized, I believe that by uniting the strengths of both companies, we can deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide who appreciate our respective brands. Together, we can create a unique way for them to enjoy cars that neither company could achieve alone.'
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Honda Director and Representative Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said: “Creation of new mobility value by bringing together the resources including knowledge, talents, and technologies that Honda and Nissan have been developing over the long years is essential to overcome challenging environmental shifts that the auto industry is facing. Honda and Nissan are two companies with distinctive strengths. We are still at the stage of starting our review, and we have not decided on a business integration yet, but in order to find a direction for the possibility of business integration by the end of January 2025, we strive to be the one and only leading company that creates new mobility value through a chemical reaction that can only be driven through the synthesis of the two teams."
How Will the Honda-Nissan Merger Work?
Nissan and Honda are exploring a strategic merger to strengthen their position in the automotive industry. The collaboration aims to leverage synergies in key areas, starting with the standardisation of vehicle platforms across various segments. This approach is expected to reduce production complexity, lower manufacturing costs, and improve economies of scale.
Both companies also plan to simplify their powertrain portfolios while maintaining a diverse range of models, including combustion engines, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles. A major focus of this partnership is increased investment in research and development, particularly in software-defined vehicles, a crucial technology for future growth.
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The merger would also focus on optimising manufacturing plants, service networks, and supply chains, alongside integrating back-office operations for better efficiency. This partnership is set to impact the broader automotive industry, with Nissan continuing its alliance with Renault, both companies collaborating on electric vehicle production using shared platforms.
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