Key Facts
• Nissan plans to supply Honda with pickup trucks produced in its U.S. factory.
• Collaboration aims to improve Nissan’s factory utilization, currently at 50% in 2024.
• Honda seeks to expand its lineup while avoiding U.S. tariffs.
• Nissan’s U.S. operations contributed to a ¥670.8 billion loss in FY2025.
• Honda’s hybrid vehicle sales are strong, but it offers only one pickup truck model.
• Merger talks between Nissan and Honda ended in February 2025 after disagreements.
• Both companies continue exploring partnerships in EVs and next-gen vehicles like SDVs.
• Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida and Honda’s CEO Toshihiro Mibe met in December 2024.
Summary
Nissan and Honda are exploring a partnership in the U.S., with Nissan planning to produce Honda-branded pickup trucks in its American factory. This collaboration aims to address Nissan’s low factory utilization, which fell to 50% in 2024, below the 70–80% breakeven point. For Honda, the partnership offers an opportunity to expand its lineup while avoiding U.S. tariffs. Despite ending merger talks in February 2025 due to disagreements over Honda’s proposal to fully acquire Nissan, the two companies continue to explore joint efforts in electric vehicles (EVs) and next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Nissan’s U.S. operations have struggled, contributing to a ¥670.8 billion loss in FY2025, while Honda’s hybrid vehicle sales remain strong, though its pickup truck offerings are limited. This collaboration reflects both companies’ efforts to address market challenges and leverage each other’s strengths.
