Automotive

Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger to create 3rd largest automaker official

Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger to create 3rd largest automaker official
Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi will need more EVs in their portfolios to stay competitive in the future
Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi will need more EVs in their portfolios to stay competitive in the future
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Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi will need more EVs in their portfolios to stay competitive in the future
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Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi will need more EVs in their portfolios to stay competitive in the future
Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi's three-way merger would make them the third largest automaker in the world
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Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi's three-way merger would make them the third largest automaker in the world

It's really happening: Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are joining forces to operate together under a single holding company, in a bid to stave off fierce competition around the world.

That's from a joint statement issued by Nissan and Honda, where the two companies announced their partnership – which follows murmurs about the merger heard last week. Nissan also holds a 24.05% stake in Mitsubishi, and previously expressed an intention to bring it into the fold under this new venture.

With that, the trio will together form the world's third largest automaker after Volkswagen AG and Toyota.

Honda and Nissan have been cozying up since March, partnering on tech and research initiatives to catch up with global trends towards zero-emissions and autonomous driving-capable vehicles. The merger is set to be completed by August 2026.

Once that's complete, we can expect to see the three brands share vehicle platforms and launch new models across categories faster. They'll also collaborate more deeply on research and development of new technology, and share production lines and part-sourcing processes to lower manufacturing costs.

Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi's three-way merger would make them the third largest automaker in the world
Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi's three-way merger would make them the third largest automaker in the world

It remains to be seen if that gives the new supergroup enough of an edge to compete with younger marques with a wide range of electric vehicle (EV) offerings like Tesla and BYD. While Honda and Nissan aren't lagging in sales in the US just now, their EV portfolios leave a lot to be desired. That doesn't bode well for the near future; it's estimated that EVs will account for 40% of all cars sold globally just five years from now.

Meanwhile, they're not doing great in China – the world's largest market. There's just one Nissan on the top 10 car models sold by volume in November 2024, and nothing from Honda; seven of the other positions on that list are occupied by Tesla and BYD.

The press statement doesn't say much about Mitsubishi's future. We also don't yet know exactly what the partnership will spell for customers' experience. Honda Director and Representative Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said: “We are still at the stage of starting our review, and we have not decided on a business integration yet."

What we do know for sure is that Honda and Nissan will continue to operate their brands independently. Nissan Director, President and CEO Makoto Uchida, is optimistic that the merger will lead to compelling new products, saying, "Together, we can create a unique way for them to enjoy cars that neither company could achieve alone."

Source: Honda

6 comments
6 comments
c w
I am thoroughly surprised that Mitsubishi still exists as a retail vehicle brand.

Daishi
If the 3 companies are planning to "do what we did before" they are probably going to have the same results as before. Tesla should better embrace manual knobs and control but at least they let you update the software that increasingly makes up the whole dashboard without replacing the car like a lot of companies. Mercedes uses antique Garmin maps you have to get a $500 SD card from the dealer to run and you need a monthly subscription to remote start it. Gross. Tons of car companies put in $10 speakers and charge you $2,000 for a tech package upgrade if you want $20 or $30 speakers instead. They refuse to give people standard mount points on the dash for a phone to the extend people have to mount them to frail ac/heat vent fins because they want you using their screen so they can force obsolescence on you while insisting they care about the environment. The dealer model is broken and Tesla is right they should not profit on you needing to bring your car in for service. At a minimum companies should let you replace the computer/display in the dash with an update after a few years without needing to replace the whole car. I dread needing a new car because I don't think I like anything.
1stClassOPP
What I’m looking for in any brand is a no BS 3 or 4 year warranty complete with all services. This could be advantageous to auto sellers because they will have first hand knowledge of how the thing is being maintained. I think most cars these days have no problem chalking up 2-3 hundred thousand km. Within a 3-4 year term. I hate the “up selling “ when I bring in my MB for service.
MartyKinn
I think the biggest reason Honda isn't a bigger automaker has much to do with their "exclusivity" marketing scheme. I know of people who wanted to buy a Honda, but the salespeople treated them like they didn't exist.
Captain Obvious
Japan Inc. needs more EVs and less gas and hydrogen cars if they want to survive.
moreover
Nissan's sale numbers are catastrophic, including in the US. On the plus side for consumers dealerships are pushing lease deals for the EVs that look like typos, especially in states like Colorado which the best EV incentives nationwide. Nissan's LEAF was a pioneering affordable EV but it took them way too long to measure up to the competition which offered SUVs, longer range and faster charging.