Japanese government pushed for merger between Nissan and Honda

Wednesday, 19 August 2020

The Japanese government reportedly pushed for a merger between Nissan and Honda as recently as late 2019.

According to insiders speaking to the Financial Times via The Japan Times, the merger was pushed as result of Carlos Ghosn’s arrest in late 2018.

Japanese government officials were reportedly worried about the state of the relationship between Renault and Nissan, saying that an Alliance collapse could 'leave the Japanese company exposed.” Advisers to the Japanese Prime Minister were among the people pushing for the merger.

It has emerged that Honda and Nissan toyed with merging last year. Wonder what the next-gen GT-R would look like if that happened...

However, both automakers rejected the idea. Nissan wanted to push through with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Honda reportedly had issues with Nissan’s capital structure with the French automaker.

**READ MORE:

The Ariya is one of Nissan’s first new models of recent times, coming as a fully electric crossover.

* Renault Nissan alliance under strain again

* Nissan and Renault plan to patch tattered alliance

The Honda e is the brand’s first fully electric vehicle and as cute as it might be, it won’t be coming here.

* Volkswagen keeps the lead in global sales

* Ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan stuns even his lawyers

Subsequently, in May 2020, Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi announced an overhauled business plan that gave each company a region of focus. Nissan was allocated China, North America and Japan.

The company is currently undergoing a four-year restructuring plan that includes a line-up cull to 55 models from the current 69 and reducing global production by 20 per cent.

New versions of 12 vehicles are part of the global plan too, including: the Ariya electric crossover, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Navara, Note, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue, Terra, X-Trail, and the upcoming 400Z. Some of these, like Armada, Kicks and Frontier aren’t for our market.

Meanwhile, Honda is working on the eleventh-generation Civic and Civic Type R, which might be a hybrid, as well as a refresh for the HR-V. The new Jazz is likely due here this year while Honda’s first fully electric vehicle, the e, has launched overseas. Unfortunately, New Zealand won’t see that model.

Honda has this year announced plans to work with General Motors on electric vehicles.

The tie-up will see Honda designing the exteriors and interiors of the new vehicles, while GM will provide the electrified drivetrain technology, 'super cruise' autonomous tech, and production lines. Expect GM's new Ultium battery technology to feature.

The two manufacturers are also working together on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to catch up with Toyota, Hyundai and other German rivals like Audi working in that field.