Honda Will Resume Nissan Merger Talks If CEO Steps Down
Honda Will Resume Nissan Merger Talks If CEO Steps Down
The drama between Honda and Nissan isn’t over yet, even after their merger talks fell apart. Less than a week after the official announcement, the Financial Times reports that Honda might still be open to resuming discussions—but only if Nissan’s CEO, Makoto Uchida, steps down. Uchida was one of the key figures pushing for the merger. However, Honda reportedly backed out due to frustration over Nissan’s slow restructuring and financial struggles.
Although Uchida has stated that he plans to remain as CEO until his contract ends in 2026, he might not last that long. Sources suggest that Nissan’s board, along with Renault, is already discussing the timing of his exit. Uchida himself has said that he’ll leave earlier if necessary, but only once Nissan is on the path to recovery.
One of the main reasons Honda is interested in Nissan is its ties with Mitsubishi, especially for its plug-in hybrid technology and strong market presence in Southeast Asia.
Honda’s CEO, Toshiro Mibe, has expressed disappointment over how the merger talks ended. However, sources say that Honda mightreconsider the deal—on the condition that Uchida steps down. “If discussions about merging come up again, we won’t completely rule it out,” Honda stated.
Meanwhile, Nissan is scrambling to find a new partner to secure its future. Foxconn is a strong contender, as the Taiwanese company is still interested in buying Nissan shares and producing EVs under its Foxtron brand.
At the same time, Renault is also exploring its options. The company has reopened discussions with Foxconn about selling some of its Nissan shares, as Nissan itself is unable to buy them back due to Renault’s high asking price.
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