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.
I just want the Mitsubishi Delica in the US
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)
The enshittification continues. Good day to be a Toyota fan
But they can only improve now that they are separating from Renault.
I don’t know, recent Renault EVs look quite ok
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
Mitsu’s lineup went to shit long ago, nothing more to lose
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.
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.
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.
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.
Guess my next car will be a Subaru or Toyota then.
RIP in peace Honda.
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.
I wonder if this includes things like Mitsubishi trucks and heavy equipment.
WOOBY but I believe that Mitsubishi Fuso is its own entity, like Volvo Trucks sharing only a name with the consumer cars
