Nissan in talks to build trucks for Honda in the U.S.

Nissan is reportedly in talks with Honda to manufacture pickup trucks for the Japanese automaker at its Canton plant in Mississippi. The partnership would see Nissan produce trucks for Honda at the site, which is one of Nissan's two U.S. vehicle plants. The deal would be a significant development for both companies, as it would allow Honda to expand its truck lineup while providing Nissan with additional production capacity.

Nissan is reportedly in talks with Honda to manufacture pickup trucks for the Japanese automaker at its Canton plant in Mississippi. The partnership would see Nissan produce trucks for Honda at the site, which is one of Nissan's two U.S. vehicle plants. The deal would be a significant development for both companies, as it would allow Honda to expand its truck lineup while providing Nissan with additional production capacity.

The collaboration comes amid ongoing discussions between the two automakers, which previously considered a merger but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. Despite the merger talks falling apart, both companies remain open to collaborating on various projects, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) segment. The potential partnership could provide a strategic boost for Nissan, which has been facing financial challenges and has been forced to consider drastic measures to stay afloat [1, 2, 3, 4].

Nissan's Canton plant, which currently manufactures the Frontier pickup truck, has excess capacity after the discontinuation of the Titan model. The plant's underutilization presents an opportunity for Nissan to take on additional production responsibilities for Honda. This could help Nissan optimize its declining factory output and provide a much-needed financial boost to the struggling automaker. Meanwhile, Honda seeks to strengthen its U.S. market presence and expand its truck lineup, which currently includes the unibody Ridgeline truck built at the company's Alabama factory [1, 2, 3, 4].

The proposed arrangement would see Nissan produce trucks bearing Honda nameplates, which Honda would then market in the U.S. This move aligns with efforts by Japanese automakers to boost local production amid concerns over potential U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions. The partnership could also mark a pivotal step for both automakers to enhance efficiency, share resources, and compete in the rapidly evolving global automotive landscape, particularly in the EV and pickup truck segments [2, 4].

While Nissan declined to comment on the speculation, it confirmed ongoing projects with Honda. Honda officials were unavailable for immediate comment. This potential collaboration could provide a lifeline for Nissan, which is facing huge losses and has significant debts coming due. The automaker is closing factories and cutting its workforce to reduce costs, so a move to build Honda trucks could help keep the Mississippi factory open [1, 2, 3].

References:
[1] https://driving.ca/auto-news/industry/nissan-honda-pickup-truck-assembly-u-s-mississippi
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/trump-tariffs-nissan-to-build-honda-pickup-trucks-in-the-u-snbsp/3911201/
[3] https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/news-blog/report-nissan-could-build-some-honda-trucks-in-mississippi-factory-45129502?utm_campaign=type_post&utm_medium=auto&utm_source=rss
[4] https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65383058/nissan-build-honda-trucks-us-plants-report/