Tesla approached by Japan group to invest in Nissan; Foxconn to partner with Honda for four-way tie-up?

Tesla approached by Japan group to invest in Nissan; Foxconn to partner with Honda for four-way tie-up?

While the Honda-Nissan merger is no more, a Japanese group is drawing up plans for Tesla to invest in Nissan, Reuters has reported, citing the Financial Times.

Described as a high-level Japanese group that involves former prime minister Yoshihide Suga and his former aide, this group has drawn up plans for the American EV maker to become a strategic investor in Nissan, and the group believes Tesla is keen to acquire Nissan’s production plants in the United States, according to the FT report.

However, the office of the former Japanese prime minister stated it was not aware of a plan to encourage Tesla to invest in Nissan. Suga was the prime minister of Japan from 2020 to 2021, though he continues to be a member of Japan’s lower house, representing a constituency in the Kanagawa prefecture, where Nissan is based.

In addition, Reuters cited analysts as being doubtful Tesla would be interested in acquiring vehicle assembly plants in the United States, as the EV maker has “ample capacity” at existing factories and just experienced its first decline in yearly deliveries last year, and it said last month that it expects to return to sales volume growth this year.

Following the termination of the Nissan-Honda merger deal earlier this month, Nissan is reportedly open to new partnerships, and Foxconn has reportedly become a possible candidate. Meanwhile, a report by Nikkei has said that Foxconn has proposed forming a partnership with Honda, to ultimately create a four-way framework that would also include Nissan and Mitsubishi.

The MoU to explore the possibility of a merger into a joint holding company was signed by Honda and Nissan in December 2024, as Mitsubishi considered joining the alliance.

Honda and Nissan jointly announced the termination of the MoU on February 13, however both Honda and Nissan stated that they will continue to “collaborate within the framework of a strategic partnership aimed at the era of intelligence and electrified vehicles,” regarding previous MoUs focusing on joint research for vehicle intelligence and electrification.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Mat Rambutan on Feb 24, 2025 at 11:07 pm

    Are these Japanese politicians descendants of WWII generals? Why so desperate to tie up with Hitler’s reincarnation?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Feb 25, 2025 at 8:41 am

    American and Japanese culture don’t match very well. Japanese decision making is slow and a lot of bureaucracy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • As proven by the failure of the DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi partnership in the 2000s. The Japanese government seems really desperate to get Nissan any partner as long as it’s not a Chinese company.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • alldisc on Feb 26, 2025 at 5:04 pm

        How about Tan Chong buying control shares in Nissan? The CEO could come to Malaysia and be country director.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kurious Worm on Feb 25, 2025 at 9:59 am

    nissan with problems, joining with tesla which also has build quality problems = disaster.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • The partnership can rely on Daddy Musk’s great name to sell cars. Wait, maybe that is not such a good idea nowadays.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • paanjang16 on Feb 26, 2025 at 7:52 am

    Why would Elon want to work with Nissan of all automakers? Later Elon will suffer the same fate as a certain Nissan CEO. Also Elon so busy working in the White House where got time to manage Nissan.

    Also to Nissan, why would you want Elon? Elon will most probably fire everyone and replace them with Tesla bot.

    The dream: Tesla Model GTR
    The reality: Nissan CVT+Tesla build quality+No signal stalk+Everything control by touch screen

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ex VGM staff on Feb 26, 2025 at 5:02 pm

    Elon : I am making a healthy profit with Tesla, why should I invest in a company that is bleeding millions of dollars a month?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • apple should buy over nissan

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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