The Japanese car manufacturer Nissan faces a decisive year and is seeking a long-term anchor investor as longtime partner Renault continues to reduce its stake. According to informed sources, Nissan is negotiating with banks, insurance groups, and also Honda to secure the company's stability amidst restructuring measures and declining sales figures in China and the USA.
Nissan considers selling shares of the company to Honda, although insiders say this remains a "last option." At the same time, Honda has signaled openness to increased cooperation. Both companies are intensifying their talks on the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and software technologies to address the growing competition from China and uncertainties in the US market following Donald Trump's reelection.
A senior Nissan representative commented: "We have 12 to 14 months to survive. We urgently need stability and growth.
Renault, which saved Nissan from insolvency in 1999, now holds only 36 percent of the shares after a realignment of the alliance, including 18.7 percent in a French trust. This share is being gradually reduced. However, Renault remains open to strategic collaboration with Nissan and Honda to leverage synergies in the field of electric mobility. The French automaker supports the discussions and described a stronger bond between Nissan and Honda as "potentially beneficial.
Nissan also plans to reduce its stake in Mitsubishi Motors from 34 to 24 percent to relieve its balance sheet. Mitsubishi could play an important role as a key partner for the Southeast Asian markets and with its expertise in plug-in hybrids.
The uncertainties at Nissan have attracted investors like Effissimo Capital Management and Oasis Management, who are already known for activist campaigns against Asian companies. This increases the pressure on management to find a sustainable solution.
The talks with Honda and other potential investors are considered a test case for the future of the automotive industry. This raises the question of whether larger mergers like Stellantis or strategic partnerships like between Nissan and Honda are the better response to current challenges.
