Honda wants to move forward with a merger with Nissan, but it intends for the Yokohama-based manufacturer in Japan to acquire the stake that the French company Renault holds in Nissan.
According to “Kyodo News,” Honda is concerned that Nissan could fall under foreign influence if Renault’s stake is acquired by third parties while negotiations between the two manufacturers are ongoing, aiming for a merger that should be completed by August 2026.
It is worth noting that Renault and Nissan have had an alliance since 1999, which Mitsubishi Motors joined in 2016. As part of this alliance, the French brand recently reduced its stake in Nissan from 43.4% to the current 35.7%.
The two Japanese brands began negotiations at the end of 2024 for a merger in order to face increasing competition from major electric vehicle manufacturers, such as the American Tesla and the Chinese BYD, which has heightened pressure on the two Japanese brands struggling to achieve sufficient profits to develop their electrification strategy.
The merger between Honda and Nissan may also involve Mitsubishi, which will decide whether to participate in the merger by the end of January. However, it is important to remember that Nissan is the largest shareholder of Mitsubishi and recently sold an undisclosed portion of its 34% stake.
