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Incoming Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa remains open to all partnerships, leaving the door open once again for the brand to join forces with Honda.
The mega-merger between Honda and Nissan might be back on the table under the latter brand’s incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ivan Espinosa.
Speaking to overseas media, including InsideEVs, after Nissan’s two-year global roadmap was revealed last week, Espinosa said he has the door open for collaborations in all forms.
"I have a no-taboo approach to partnerships,” Espinosa said.
It is reported that merger talks between Honda and Nissan broke down in February after both brands could not see eye-to-eye on an amicable outcome – the latter wanting an equal partnership, despite the former being a larger global company on more secure financial footing.
Now, it has emerged that Honda would be open to more negotiations if CEO Makota Uchida stepped down from the top job he held since 2019, which has since happened.
“We never stopped [talking with Honda],” Espinosa said.
“We are working every week with them because we have a lot of projects with them.”
Clearly, the failed merger talks have not soured the relationship, which began in early 2024 and will also investigate artificial intelligence applications.
Exact details of this partnership have not been revealed, but it could move beyond EVs in a bid to protect both from the wave of more affordable tailpipe emissions-free models from China.
A large SUV example was given as both brands field seven models in the segment across Nissan, Infiniti, Honda, and Acura brands.
Espinosa, who will leave his current role Chief Planning Officer for CEO from April 1, said he sees more partnerships in Nissan’s – as well as the automotive industry’s – future.
"I would say for partnerships in general, we are very open," Espinosa said.
"The future of the industry is going to be very interesting, and it's clear that the name of the game in the future is how to build efficient partnerships that add value to your company.
“It could be in many shapes and forms.”
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
