by Toyota offered assistance to Nissan
Japanese automaker Toyota has reportedly offered support to Nissan after the latter’s negotiations with Honda ended in failure. Neither party has officially confirmed discussions of a partnership, but sources indicate that Toyota’s outreach occurred as early as February.
Nissan is going through a difficult period: the company announced the elimination of 20,000 jobs and the closure of seven of its 17 global plants. Toyota, on the other hand, has experience investing in other auto brands—for example, it holds stakes in Subaru, Suzuki, and Mazda.
“We are open to evaluating potential partners who can bring additional value to Nissan,” stated the company’s CEO, Ivan Espinosa.
Currently, Nissan is focused on internal reforms, including cost optimization, streamlining its parts lineup, and reducing the number of production platforms. However, in the long term, the company does not rule out collaboration with other market players.
The situation with Toyota is reminiscent of how it gradually increased its stake in Daihatsu—first to 33%, then fully absorbing the brand. Whether Nissan becomes the next investment target remains uncertain, but market conditions may favor such a development.
