New Negotiations Between Nissan and Honda
After a failed attempt to merge, Nissan and Honda are negotiating again. According to reports, they are considering the possibility of joint production of pickup trucks at a plant in Canton, Mississippi. This plant currently produces the Nissan Frontier model, but there is talk of a potential production of full-size trucks.
Previous negotiations between the companies were terminated earlier this year, but now the parties are discussing cooperation again. One reason may be the impact of tariffs imposed by the U.S. government, which complicate the import of automobiles. Honda is interested in Nissan’s plant in Mississippi because it is currently operating at only 57% capacity.
Sources report that Nissan could produce pickup trucks under the Honda brand at this plant. Although initially it was about a modified version of the Frontier, information has emerged about a full-size model.
Prospects for Cooperation
This raises questions, as Nissan discontinued production of the full-size Titan in 2024 due to low sales. Honda already has its own Ridgeline pickup, but it has a different design (unibody instead of body-on-frame).
Rumors had also previously surfaced that Honda could release a version of the Nissan Armada to compete with large SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Expedition. However, there is no clear information yet about specific models.
Negotiations have been ongoing since April, and although a full merger is not on the table, the companies are looking for ways to cooperate for mutual benefit. For Nissan, this could be an opportunity to increase production capacity utilization, especially given the delays in launching new electric crossovers that were planned for this plant.
The situation with automobile production in the U.S. remains complex due to economic factors, so joint projects could help both companies reduce costs and increase efficiency. Final decisions have not yet been made, but these negotiations indicate a shift in market strategy approach.