Summary
Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi have confirmed merger talks to form the world’s third-largest carmaker by annual sales, aiming to tackle challenges from Chinese competition and the shift to electric vehicles.
The proposed merger, through a joint holding company, seeks to combine resources as Japan’s automakers struggle with declining sales and costly EV transitions, lagging behind leaders like Toyota and Chinese rivals BYD.
Nissan’s former CEO Carlos Ghosn criticized the plan, citing overlapping operations, while executives called it a pivotal move amid unprecedented industry changes. Mitsubishi will decide on joining by January’s end.
i41 cannot wait to get my grubby hands on the wheel of my ’26 MiNiHo.
Honda strikes me as a lazy ass company. I know a lot of people like their cars, and they do make a car as good as it was 10 years ago, but they seem behind even American companies when it comes to EVs.
Japan had huge success with hybrid cars and this caused them to put to many eggs in one basket and delay development of electric vehicles.
Honda never really made advanced hybrids either and they absolutely chose to drag their feet on EVs, they pushed hydrogen way too hard and even that always felt like a marketing stunt.
Aren’t Nissan and Mitsubishi almost part of Renault?
The Mitsubishi Colt is now a rebadged Renault Clio and the Mitsubishi ASX is a Renault Captur
All cars are other cars these days, it’s nearing car singularity. I drive a Toyota that looks like a Citroen and has an engine from the Opel.
When buying a new vehicle, you have several choice. You may purchase motorbike, car, van, or utility. Such variety.
Want car? Here car. Why complicate thing?
The Mitsubishi Colt is now a rebadged Renault Clio
Huh. They’re not very common here; when I saw one driving yesterday I was wondering why it reminded me so much of Renault.
Nissan’s former CEO Carlos Ghosn, who fled prosecution in Japan by hiding in a box as cargo on a plane, criticized the plan…
FTF(them)
To be fair to him, Japan’s justice system sounds truly awful! I had no idea, but just went down a rabbithole learning about it.
To be fair to him, Japan’s justice system sounds truly awful! I had no idea, but just went down a rabbithole learning about it.
Then he shouldn’t have set up shell companies and funneled Nissan company funds into those to buy himself expensive real estate around the world. One doesn’t accidentally set up a shell company, deposit company funds into it, and then use those funds to buy expensive apartments in Paris.
Completely agree, I don’t know specifics of his case. But Japan’s justice system really does sound horrific - if you’re a defendant, there’s no presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and there’s a cultural expectation that you’ll bow to the state and accept guilt regardless of circumstances… seems like a very antiquated system to say the least. I had no idea.
Sounds like a cultural expectation of accountability to me. Living in a country that is the complete opposite, I can respect having a national sense of everyone should be doing the right thing and if you’re suspected of not doing so, you need to have the character to prove it thoroughly.
I’ve seen someone use that box trick before.
That’s it VTECS your Evo
Rotary Evo
I’m a big fan of Honda cars. Not much of a Nissan fan (I know lots of people swear by them, but I had a bad experience with a Nissan lemon years ago). And I’ve heard Mitsubishi cars are a complete joke from a reliability perspective. So this news does not fill me with hope. If they can drag the build quality up to Honda’s standards then fine. But that’s not usually how these things pan out.
Wait there are people who like Nissan? My old one chewed through alternators
I’m baffled by that comment too.
Nissan is Renault. Cheap, badly made junk. Not just in the US either
Their reputation is gutter-level in Europe too
Don’t worry, when this new company eventually merges with Toyota, who already own parts of Subaru and Mazda, it will be perfectly positioned for acquisition by Stellantis.
Stellantis def has the expirence needed to turn Toyota into a unreliable brand. It’s their bread and butter.
They all use the same suppliers within the u.s. many suppliers are owned by Japanese companies. This gives them massive leverage over u.s. parts suppliers.
The enshittification continues. Good day to be a Toyota fan
Alternative take: this merger will let them compete better with Toyota.
People complain about lack of STi and expensive as hell Corrolla GR, but I’d take that any day over a Nissan’d Mistubishi and Honda.
RIP Lancer Evo
Outside of Nissans CVT yall are absolutely sleeping on their interiors. Given the price they compete in they’re doing some really amazing work.
Mitsubishi has also had the rather nice Outlander PHEV. The Mirage needs to go as it’s just too crappy and soils the brand, but their work has been fine. I owned an Evo and I’d love another, but that didn’t make them money.
Toyota has also been steadfast against BEVs (which I can sort of understand, but their Bz4X is a shit attempt) and their new turbo motors have had some reliability concerns.
Subaru builds the ugliest cars on the road with all that plastic now and their motors continue to suffer head gasket issues.
Honestly a Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi corp would be capable of keeping up the fight. Especially given Nissan was an early player in the BEV game.
There are a lot of design choices they got wrong but for the most part I like my Nissan. If parts were easier to replace it would be a great car
I had a 89 Nissan hatchback and I loved that gutless wonder.
Yeah I’m pretty sure mine is going to rust out before I stop using it. 130k miles and still going strong.
Mitsu’s lineup went to shit long ago, nothing more to lose
But they can only improve now that they are separating from Renault.
I don’t know, recent Renault EVs look quite ok
I’m not sure what Honda gains from this other than production capacity. I suppose that depends on how closely merged the companies will be – they may only share platforms rather than go full badge engineering.
2 fewer Japanese car companies to compete with.
Hondas competition has always been Toyota. Now it can be “Toyota vs. Honda” instead of “Toyota vs. Honda vs. Mitsubishi vs. Nissan”
I just want the Mitsubishi Delica in the US
The one (the boxy one, pre 1995) where the driver sits on the front axle has an outstanding design. Too bad they don’t make this design anymore due to crash safety reasons. The one (ca. 1995 onwards) where the driver sits behind the front axle looks boring, like any other generic family van.
I currently own a 1994 Star Wagon. I love it but the safety and reliability have me desperate for a replacement. I wish there were anything in the US market that was a similar Multi Purpose Vehicle form factor. The ID buzz range and price are a no-go for me.
The Zaibatsu returns
I don’t think they have ever left. They’re probably not as influential and as powerful as the South Korean Chaebols, but they pretty much never left.
EDIT:
Clarified confusing double negative.
What will the new name be?
Mitsuhonsan?
Honsubisan?
Nitsubida?
Arasaka
Friggin Corpos, man.
They will most likely keep the brand names. But operate as a single company. Similar to how GM or Nissan operated after mergers. Not really different.
Guess my next car will be a Subaru or Toyota then.
RIP in peace Honda.
Rest in peace in peace?
Amen.
Good.
I’ve had a Nissan sentra and a maxima for many years. Now I got a Toyota hybrid and a Honda van and both are great cars. I think this will be great.
My Honda Fit somehow braves northeastern winters better than most of my previous cars. I don’t get it either.
I don’t know why the fit is the perfect vehicle, but I swear by mine
