Part 10/13:
The plan was to form a mega-company by mid-2025, aiming to counter the rising threat from Chinese EV makers like BYD and the global giants. Honda saw the threat and sought strategic alliances. Interestingly, Honda didn’t need Nissan; it was Nissan that desperately required help.
However, negotiations quickly soured. Honda, observing Nissan’s faltering management and bloated costs, proposed a merger of equals with significant cost cuts, possibly involving plant closures. Nissan’s leadership balked at these terms, feeling insulted and determined to preserve their pride.