Honda and Nissan have inked a strategic partnership agreement

Back in 2019 the Japanese government reportedly tried to get Honda and Nissan to merge. At the time, both companies were said to have rejected the proposal right away. But now, a mere five years later, both carmakers have signed an agreement for a strategic partnership on their own.

Since its inception Honda has been staunchly independent. It seems like a big deal here in the US, but in Japan it lags behind even Daihatsu and Suzuki in annual sales. Over the years there have been many so-called experts saying the company had to merge with one of Japan’s larger manufactuers in order to survive, but Honda fiercely resisted teaming up with other domestic carmakers.

Instead, it explored partnerships with completely left-field choices like the UK’s Rover in the 1980s and, more recently, a short-lived one with GM and a strange one with Sony. The Nissan agreement seems to pick up where the GM one left off, with a focus on electric and autonomous vehicles.

It’s no secret that Honda has been lagging in the EV market, while Nissan has been a pioneer. On the other hand, Honda has been a leader in robotics (like with its ASIMO robot), the technology of which may prove useful in developing autonomous vehicles.

Both Honda and Nissan have alluded to the fact that their next-generation of flagships, the NSX and GT-R, respectively, will be electric. It would be interesting if there was to be co-mingling between Japan’s two iconic supercars.