According to Reuters, on March 15, two major Japanese automakers, Nissan Motor and Honda Motor, announced that they are considering establishing a strategic partnership to collaborate on producing key components for electric vehicles and the artificial intelligence needed for automotive software platforms.
Reuters noted that amid fierce competition from companies like BYD and Tesla, Japanese automakers are facing challenges, and the collaboration between Nissan and Honda could help both companies achieve economies of scale in electric vehicle production.
Nissan, with its all-electric model Leaf, has been a pioneer in the electric vehicle field, but the increasing competition from new players has made progress difficult for Nissan, similar to other traditional automakers. Makoto Uchida, the CEO of Nissan, said at a press conference, "Emerging companies are very aggressive and are entering the market at an incredible speed. If we stick to traditional wisdom and traditional methods, we cannot win the competition."
Honda's President, Mibe Toshihiro, stated that the two companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore potential areas of cooperation, but the scope of cooperation has not been determined yet. Uchida also mentioned that both parties are open to any cooperation in the Japanese and overseas markets.
Uchida mentioned that if there is an opportunity, Nissan and Honda are willing to collaborate with existing partners. Mibe Toshihiro also indicated that both companies will explore cost-cutting measures and added that achieving cost efficiency requires higher production levels. As of now, Nissan and Honda have not discussed capital cooperation, but they are open to possibilities in the future. "We are pressed for time and need to speed up. To be in a favorable position by 2030, we need to make decisions now," Uchida said.
Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, pointed out that the two companies have six years to collaborate in the electric vehicle field. "I think both companies want to take it slow rather than rush into collaboration."
Furthermore, Nissan's alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors will not be affected by its collaboration with Honda. Nissan and Renault also have cooperation in the electric vehicle field, mainly in the European market. Nissan's new electric model, Micra, will share a platform with Renault's R5 electric model and will be produced at the same factory in northern France. Last year, Nissan and Renault narrowed down their cooperation scope, and Renault subsequently signed cooperation agreements with new partners like Geely.
