The $60 billion mega-merger between Honda and Nissan has been called off, in part because of Nissan's “pride and insufficient alarm about its predicament,” writes Reuters, citing half a dozen sources.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday it had opened an engineering analysis into 129,092 U.S. Honda Motor vehicles after receiving reports of camera failure.
As widely expected, Honda and Nissan have ended discussions about a potential merger but will continue working together on electric vehicle (EV) development. The two Japanese automakers, along with Mitsubishi, had considered joining forces to compete with rising Chinese EV manufacturers.
Honda and Nissan initially wanted to finalize an agreement by June.
This confirms earlier reports by Reuters that said Nissan "looks set to step back from" merger talks with rival Honda. Shares of Honda gained 2.14% on Thursday, while Nissan stock slipped 0.34%.
Japan's Honda Motor said on Thursday its third-quarter operating profit increased 5% from a year earlier, helped by strong U.S. vehicle sales and a weak yen.
Honda Motor's (HMC) U.S.-listed shares are rising about 6% in premarket trading following reports that the Japanese automaker's plans to merge with ailing domestic rival Nissan are in jeopardy.
The development sparked new questions about how long Nissan can ride out its latest crisis without external help.
Shares of Honda and Nissan climbed on Wednesday following a report that the Japanese automakers were considering calling off their high-profile merger discussions. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper, citing sources, said the boards of both companies were preparing to formally terminate negotiations, which had been in progress since last year.
Honda's next generation of manufacturing is starting in Ohio. The automaker plans to install six "giga presses," made known by Tesla, and a new "cell" manufacturing system for its upcoming electric vehicle battery cases.
American Honda issued a major recall over engine concerns this week.
Honda Motor said on Wednesday it will boost its investments in three Ohio auto plants by $300 million to have flexibility to build EVs, hybrids and gas-powered vehicles on the same assembly line.