Not Honda: Nissan shopping for a different partner - reports

The Nissan-Honda merger deal appeared dead even before it got off the ground. After it was reported that Nissan is calling off merger talks with Honda, new reports have come out that the former is looking for new partners. 

According to anonymous sources who are familiar with the matter, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida personally met with Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe earlier this week to say that they want to end discussions about the merger. This comes after Honda planned to make Nissan a subsidiary which did not sit well with the embattled automaker.

With Nissan no longer interested in dealing with Honda, the company is now reportedly working with new partners including technology companies. With Nissan struggling in the EV market which is now being dominated by Chinese brands who also specialize in software and battery tech, it’s not surprising Nissan is going towards this direction. But which companies is the automaker looking to work with?

One of the tech companies Nissan is apparently seeking to partner with is Taiwan’s Foxconn. That’s right, Nissan is eyeing the world’s largest contract electronics maker that produces Apple’s iPhone. But why is that? One of the possible reasons Nissan is interested in working with Foxconn is the fact that the electronics maker has its own EV aspirations.

Just last year, Foxconn’s automotive arm Foxtron revealed the Model D. The concept, which was designed with help from Italy’s Pininfarina, is billed as a Lifestyle Multipurpose Utility Vehicle (LMUV) that combines the best features of a minivan and an electric car. It has a range of up to 600 km, supports an 800V architecture, and comes with a lounge-like cabin.

Jun Seki pictured on the right

Another possible reason Nissan is interested in working with Foxconn is the fact that its EV business is being led by a former Nissan executive, Jun Seki. He was once seen as a possible candidate to lead Nissan before the task was ultimately given to Uchida.

For now, both Nissan and Honda spokespersons say that the two automakers will announce their future direction by mid-February. Foxconn, meanwhile, has yet to officially respond regarding the matter.

With Nissan and Honda failing to come to an agreement along with the fact that there are growing differences between the two, it’s no longer surprising both brands may not eventually merge. Do you think Nissan will have a better chance of working with Foxconn should they come to a deal? Let us know what you think.

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg