News On Japan

Honda CEO Does Not Rule Out Possibility of Merger With Nissan

TOKYO, Dec 18 (News On Japan) - Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe has stated that while "nothing has been decided" regarding a merger with Nissan Motor, he did not rule out the possibility.

"We are discussing all possibilities," Mibe said. When asked specifically if a merger was among those possibilities, he responded, "From top to bottom, I think it is within the range of possibilities," while emphasizing that "nothing has been decided yet."

According to sources, Honda and Nissan are discussing plans to establish a holding company that would bring both companies under its umbrella as part of a move toward a merger.

In the future, Mitsubishi Motors, where Nissan holds the largest share, could also join the integration. If the three companies merge, their combined sales would exceed 8 million units, creating a global top-three automaker group.

In August, Honda and Nissan announced a partnership to collaborate on software development and electric vehicle production.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A joint patrol was conducted in Okinawa City by local police and the U.S. military over the weekend, the second such operation following a similar patrol in April, as part of efforts to prevent further incidents after a U.S. serviceman was arrested in connection with the assault of a woman.

In southern Hokkaido, the opening of the surume squid season brought an unprecedented shock as the first auction in Hakodate was canceled due to virtually no catch, leaving local stakeholders deeply unsettled.

A Japanese woman working with Doctors Without Borders has delivered a harrowing account from Gaza, where severe food shortages and relentless Israeli airstrikes have pushed local hospitals and residents to the brink of collapse.

Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family and now living in the United States, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30th. The agency stated that the birth was disclosed during a press conference after some media reports surfaced, despite their intention to allow Komuro to live in a quiet environment following her departure from the Imperial family.

Akie Abe, widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visited the Kremlin on May 29th and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Akie was seen tearfully listening to Putin’s words, reflecting the emotional nature of their exchange. Following the conversation, she was invited to ride in Putin’s official limousine to the Bolshoi Theatre, where the two attended a ballet performance together.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Business NEWS

YOSHIKI, leader of the rock band X Japan, announced on May 30th that he will begin producing wine in Yoichi, Hokkaido, using locally grown grapes under his “Y by YOSHIKI” brand.

Nippon Steel, which operates major steelworks in Kitakyushu, announced on May 30th a new investment plan to introduce an electric arc furnace that uses electricity instead of coal to produce steel.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 30th that his administration plans to double the current tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50 percent. Speaking at a plant owned by major American steelmaker U.S. Steel, Trump declared that the existing 25 percent tariff on steel imports would be raised to 50 percent starting June 4th. The same rate will also apply to aluminum products, with the measure expected to affect exporters globally.

Japan and the United States held their fourth ministerial-level talks on tariffs on May 30th, with Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa stating that "progress toward an agreement was confirmed" during the meeting.

JR East Japan's group company has come under suspicion for overcharging labor costs in a government-commissioned project, claiming 65 people were working on a project while on 3 were involved.

SoftBank has teamed up with Intel and the University of Tokyo to establish a new semiconductor memory development company in Japan focused on artificial intelligence applications. Named SAIMEMORY, the new firm aims to develop cutting-edge memory chips with enhanced performance and lower energy consumption.

Concordia Financial Group, which will change its name to Yokohama Financial Group in October, is seeking to reinforce its identity as a strong regional bank group centered on Yokohama Bank. President Tatsuya Kataoka, who also serves as head of Yokohama Bank, discussed the strategy behind the rebranding, the group's structural reforms, and its ambitions for stronger financial performance during a joint interview with Nikkei Financial.

In a time when environmental concerns are reaching a critical point, businesses across the world, but mainly in Europe and the Middle East are ramping up their recycling efforts, an increasingly powerful driver of both ecological protection and economic opportunity.