Will the Newly Announced Planned Merger of Honda and Nissan Save the Frontier and/or Titan?

[AbleGuy]

Could be good news?

Nissan and Honda announce plans for merger: Here's what to know

Nissan and Honda are in talks to merge by 2026 as electric vehicles shake up the automotive industry.

www.usatoday.com

Much remains to be seen though, as to what this news will mean for our ability to actually buy new Nissan 4x4 trucks inNorth America, and also rely on continued parts and service availability. Especially after reading that Nissan also recently announced huge job and production cuts in it’s US factory.

What do you think?

Would this merger news make it more likely (or less likely) that you’d more strongly consider buying a new Nissan truck or SUV in ‘25 or ‘26?

 

[Ozarker]

Nisda? Frontitan? As long as we can still get the Nissan Z, we'll be ok.

 

[Gravelette]

They have said the brands will retain their separate identities. If they prune Nissan my guess is some of the overlapping small "clown" SUVs. IIRC Nissan said they were going to use the Titan factory space in MS for some other product. Titan is done and gone. Frontier seems different enough from the Ridgeline but who knows how much market there is for small trucks. They are approaching the price of 1/2 tons.

 

[AbleGuy]

Frontier seems different enough from the Ridgeline but who knows how much market there is for small trucks. They are approaching the price if 1/2 tons.

That’s exactly the challenge with trying to sell enough of the “mid sized” trucks to keep them in your market lineup (really, only the Maverick can truly be thought of as a ‘small’ anymore)…it basically seems to be a hearts over minds market.

The MS trucks may feel easier (and more fun) to drive and easier to park.

But price/mileage/capacity seem to clearly argue in favor of the FS 1/2 tons being the more rational choice.

 

[vintageracer]

Ford has produced and sold over 100,000 2024 Mavericks. Production is finally catching up with demand.

The market for a 4 door car with a bed that is a Hybrid (Maverick) is alive and well in the USA!

 

[cruiserdude80]

I think Gravelette is correct. SUV overlap will lead to the elimination of slow seller Nissan products. The Frontier and Ridgeline are 2 different designs and I think they will continue unchanged. I think the Nissan car line will be trimmed back also, but some of those will remain, like the Sentra. Nissan (and Mitsubishi for that matter) need Honda more than Honda needs them.

 

[ITTOG]

I don't see any benefit in this for Honda. Having owned both cars, this is like Lamborghini and Ford combining.

 

[SnowedIn]

They have said the brands will retain their separate identities. If they prune Nissan my guess is some of the overlapping small "clown" SUVs. IIRC Nissan said they were going to use the Titan factory space in MS for some other product. Titan is done and gone. Frontier seems different enough from the Ridgeline but who knows how much market there is for small trucks. They are approaching the price if 1/2 tons.

Price? My 2015 with some mods weighs as much as a crew cab F-150 with the heaviest engine option.

 

[Kingsize24]

Honda should walk away. There is zero upside for them.

 

[2025 deleted member]

I don't see any benefit in this for Honda. Having owned both cars, this is like Lamborghini and Ford combining.

lol more like Ford and Chrysler

 

[DaveInDenver]

Honda should walk away. There is zero upside for them.

I wonder if there's some Japanese business courtesy going on here, if that's even still a thing. At one time businesses would look out for each other (such as when Toyota invested in Subaru, which has only yielded a couple of niche vehicles for them) rather than the U.S. version of cut throat competition.

The upside for Honda is gaining U.S. production and real trucks. Remember that Nissan is the 3rd leg of a stool with Mitsubishi and Renault. Thinking here global more than just just North America.

I would imagine that adding Honda to that group might help competing with VW, Toyota, GM, Ford. As it is Honda was having their Prologue EV made by GM. Whether that was strategic not to invest R&D or lack of capability maybe they're not keen to help keep GM afloat.

 

[Kingsize24]

I wonder if there's some Japanese business courtesy going on here, if that's even still a thing. At one time businesses would look out for each other (such as when Toyota invested in Subaru, which has only yielded a couple of niche vehicles for them) rather than the U.S. version of cut throat competition.

The upside for Honda is gaining U.S. production and real trucks. Remember that Nissan is the 3rd leg of a stool with Mitsubishi and Renault. Thinking here global more than just just North America.

I would imagine that adding Honda to that group might help competing with VW, Toyota, GM, Ford. As it is Honda was having their Prologue EV made by GM. Whether that was strategic not to invest R&D or lack of capability maybe they're not keen to help keep GM afloat.

I think about it too, but Honda generally seems/acts more scalpel however, vs Nissan, which has always seemed to spread themselves out, and feel the market. If you look at what Honda does of the years, which occasionally they completely miss, they generally have pointed intention. Keep it surgical with their development and application. If they include Nissan, it just feels like they water that down.

Nissan on the other hand just has a different feel. I would think Nissan could find a much better match for themselves. Keep more independent, vs most likely being completely overwhelmed by Honda and their intention. The companies just feel oil and water to me.

JMHO

 

[ITTOG]

I wonder if there's some Japanese business courtesy going on here, if that's even still a thing. At one time businesses would look out for each other (such as when Toyota invested in Subaru, which has only yielded a couple of niche vehicles for them) rather than the U.S. version of cut throat competition.

The upside for Honda is gaining U.S. production and real trucks. Remember that Nissan is the 3rd leg of a stool with Mitsubishi and Renault. Thinking here global more than just just North America.

I would imagine that adding Honda to that group might help competing with VW, Toyota, GM, Ford. As it is Honda was having their Prologue EV made by GM. Whether that was strategic not to invest R&D or lack of capability maybe they're not keen to help keep GM afloat.

I think that may be because Honda has never believed in EV's. They have always pushed and spent on hydrogen vehicles.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Nisda? Frontitan? As long as we can still get the Nissan Z, we'll be ok.

Used to love the Z, even back when they were still Datsun. I had an '86 300ZX.. T tops. Digital dashboard. Leather seats. In 2007, I parked it next to my 06 Honda Civic Si, opened both hoods and started the engines. Only one of them sounded like a lawnmower, and it wasn't the Z.

Great car, until I got slammed head on my a drunk driver. Many of the parts live on in a restored Anniversary Edition a mechanic friend rebuilt.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I wonder if there's some Japanese business courtesy going on here, if that's even still a thing. At one time businesses would look out for each other (such as when Toyota invested in Subaru, which has only yielded a couple of niche vehicles for them) rather than the U.S. version of cut throat competition.

The upside for Honda is gaining U.S. production and real trucks. Remember that Nissan is the 3rd leg of a stool with Mitsubishi and Renault. Thinking here global more than just just North America.

I would imagine that adding Honda to that group might help competing with VW, Toyota, GM, Ford. As it is Honda was having their Prologue EV made by GM. Whether that was strategic not to invest R&D or lack of capability maybe they're not keen to help keep GM afloat.

But they still wont have a "real truck." Just the Frontier, which is a solid midsize, but this does nothing to propel Honda into having a real truck as even the Titan was never accepted as one, and that's been axed