Shortly after the merger deal with Honda fell through, a Toyota executive reportedly reached out to Nissan to offer assistance
Nissan’s recent ups and downs are a testament to how quickly the automotive landscape can shift. Just a few months ago, the company appeared to be on the verge of merging with Honda. Talks between the two Japanese automakers were progressing late last year, and by January, a deal looked close. But just as suddenly as it had taken shape, the merger collapsed—leaving Nissan to navigate its challenges alone.
Now, new information suggests that Nissan may not have been entirely abandoned. Following the breakdown of the Honda deal, another major Japanese automaker stepped in.
According to a report from Mainichi, a Toyota executive reached out to Nissan in February to offer support. The specifics of what that support entailed remain unclear, and neither company has publicly confirmed discussions of a potential partnership. Still, it’s hard to ignore the strategic timing—Toyota may view Nissan’s current struggles as a potential opportunity.
Toyota has a long track record of quietly expanding its influence through incremental investments. It began acquiring a stake in Daihatsu nearly 60 years ago, starting with just 0.22%. Over the decades, that stake grew steadily—16.8%, then 33.4% in 1995, and a controlling 51.2% by 1998. In 2016, Daihatsu became a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota.
Toyota has followed similar strategies with other automakers, holding around 20% of Subaru, and roughly 5% each in Suzuki and Mazda. Clearly, the company isn’t shy about making strategic moves when the timing is right.
Whether Nissan accepts help from Toyota remains to be seen. For now, the company says it’s focused on solving its internal issues. However, it isn’t ruling out the possibility of future collaborations.
“This is a very open review that we’re doing, and we are evaluating potential partners that will bring additional corporate value to Nissan,” said Nissan Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa last week while unveiling the company’s bold new turnaround plan.
That plan includes cutting 20,000 jobs globally, reducing labor costs by 20%, cutting parts complexity by 70%, and scaling back the number of vehicle platforms it uses. Nissan also plans to close seven of its 17 global production plants.
