- Merging the two companies would increase their U.S. manufacturing footprint and reduce their exposure to import taxes. Nissan has three plants in the U.S.; Honda meanwhile has 12 facilities. President-elect Trump is hoping tariffs will force foreign companies to make more of their cars in the U.S.: “I want [foreign] car companies to become American car companies. I want them to build their plants here,” Trump said in September.
The Japanese car giants Nissan and Honda are exploring talks to build a closer relationship that could include a merger, according to reports. Combined, Japan’s second- and third-largest carmakers would become closer in size to Toyota, which would remain the world’s top automaker.
