Nikkei Asia: Honda and Nissan begin merger talks

Japanese carmakers Honda and Nissan, according to Nikkei Asia, which cites anonymous sources, have started talks on creating a joint holding company. This could be the first step towards deeper co-operation or even a full merger in the future. Moreover, Mitsubishi Motors, where Nissan holds a 24% stake, is planned to be included in this structure.

Here's What We Know

Despite the rumours, the merger has not been officially confirmed yet. Honda and Nissan said they are only exploring "various opportunities for future co-operation" for now, to capitalise on each company's strengths. They promised to keep interested parties informed of any updates. French carmaker Renault, which is a major shareholder in Nissan, has yet to comment.

According to the Nikkei, the negotiators are also discussing the integration of Mitsubishi Motors into a new holding company. This would create a powerful alliance of the three Japanese manufacturers, which would be able to respond to market challenges together. However, Mitsubishi has not yet commented on this information.

Source: Nikkei Asia