Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Diverging Electrification Goals between Honda and Nissan; Accelerated Resource Integration will be the Top Priority Post-Merger
December 25, 2024 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Honda and Nissan—two of Japan’s largest automakers—announced on December 23rd, 2024, that they have entered into merger negotiations, with plans to finalize an agreement by June 2025. Mitsubishi Motors is also expected to join the partnership.
TrendForce reports that if the three automakers successfully merge, the immediate priority will be resource integration to achieve cost savings through economies of scale and accelerate EV development plans.
In 2023, Honda and Nissan ranked 7th and 8th globally in vehicle sales, respectively. However, in the first three quarters of 2024, BYD surpassed Nissan to become the 8th largest automaker, closing in on Honda in 7th place.
Beyond sales competition, Honda and Nissan are facing mounting pressure from their electrification efforts. TrendForce projects that both companies will have a market share of less than 5% in the EV market (including BEVs, PHEVs, FCVs, and HEVs) in 2024. This places them at a disadvantage in BEV and PHEV markets compared to Tesla and leading Chinese automakers, while in the HEV market, both brands continue to trail behind Toyota.
TrendForce’s analysis indicates that while the merger could boost overall vehicle sales and may surpass the Hyundai-Kia Group in 2025, the short-term impact on the EV sector will likely be limited to resource integration rather than immediate sales growth. Honda aims to adapt the Adapted Electric Platform (AEP) for EV production as a transitional measure, focusing on accelerating BEV deployment in the Chinese market. The company targets achieving 100% global sales of BEVs and FCVs by 2040. Meanwhile, Nissan is prioritizing its e-POWER hybrid technology, with plans for all new vehicle models to feature either e-POWER or fully electric drivetrains by 2030.
While Mitsubishi Motors’ contribution to overall vehicle sales remains modest, Mitsubishi Group’s expertise in key EV components, such as electric motors and inverters, is invaluable. Leveraging Mitsubishi Motors' supply chain relationships may support the newly formed company's EV ambitions.
However, integrating the unique technologies and operational strengths of Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors will be a complex and time-consuming process. Following the merger, one of the most pressing tasks will be to define a clear and unified electrification direction, including the expedited rollout of next-gen EV platforms.
TrendForce highlights that EVs are projected to account for approximately 25% of global new car sales in 2024. Although the growth rate of the global EV market has slowed, the overall upward trend remains intact. Global EV sales are expected to reach 26 million units by 2025, capturing nearly 30% of total new car sales. In this rapidly evolving landscape, no automaker can afford complacency in their electrification efforts.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Worldwide Silicon Wafer Shipments Increase 2% Year-on-Year in Q1 2025
04/30/2025 | SEMIWorldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 2.2% year-on-year (YoY) to 2,896 million square inches (MSI) from the 2,834 MSI recorded during the same quarter of 2024, the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
TV Brands May Pass U.S. Tariff Costs to Consumers; 2025 Shipments Expected to Drop 0.7%
04/30/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest research indicates that U.S. reciprocal tariffs are likely to drive TV brands to pass rising costs onto consumers through higher retail prices in the second half of 2025, further weakening consumer spending momentum.
Teradyne Reports First Quarter 2025 Results
04/30/2025 | BUSINESS WIRETeradyne, Inc. reported revenue of $686 million for the first quarter of 2025 of which $543 million was in Semiconductor Test, $69 million in Robotics, and $74 million in Product Test. GAAP net income for the first quarter was $98.9 million or $0.61 per diluted share.
2024 Global Semiconductor Materials Market Posts $67.5 Billion in Revenue
04/29/2025 | SEMIGlobal semiconductor materials market revenue increased 3.8% to $67.5 billion in 2024, SEMI, the global industry association representing the electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, reported in its Materials Market Data Subscription (MMDS).
New RF Materials Offer Options for RF Designers
04/29/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineThe RF materials arena has changed quite a bit in the past decade. The newest thermoset laminates boast performance numbers that are almost competitive with PTFE, but without the manufacturability challenges. At IPC APEX EXPO this year, I spoke with Brent Mayfield, business development manager at AGC Multi Material America. Brent walked through some recent innovations in RF materials, advances in resin systems, and the many design trade-offs for RF engineers to consider for each material set.