Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors have announced plans to explore collaboration potentials, focusing on electrification and intelligent mobility. The carmakers signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which proposed the creation of a joint holding company to strengthen their strategic partnership. Mitsubishi Motors is now examining the potential to join this initiative, with discussions expected to reach a conclusion by January 2025.
The proposed integration aims to enhance synergies across various operations, including research and development, electrification, and mobility solutions. Leaders from all three companies have expressed optimism about the collaborative potential of this arrangement. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said:
“Honda and Nissan have begun considering a business integration, and will study the creation of significant synergies between the two companies in a wide range of fields. It is significant that Nissan’s partner, Mitsubishi Motors, is also involved in these discussions. We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base.“
With all three brands together, there is an opportunity to deliver greater value as platform and powertrain development costs could be shared. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said:
“At this time of change in the automobile industry, which is said to occur once every 100 years, we hope that Mitsubishi Motors’ participation in the business integration discussions of Nissan and Honda will lead to further social change, and that we will be able to become a leading company in creating new value in mobility through business integration.”
As part of the ongoing process, Honda and Nissan may file documentation with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should the proposed share transfer and holding company establishment proceed. This will include detailed information for shareholders of both companies to evaluate the integration plans.
The potential partnership means we could soon see models and platforms shared for future models from the three major Japanese carmakers. Details on what models and model lines could be shared is yet to be revealed.
