Honda and Nissan’s merger risks failure due to cultural clashes and misalignment. Find out why HMC and NSANY stocks are uncertain investments.

Honda has announced an agreement to merge with Nissan in a deal worth a reported $54 billion. Mitsubishi, which has long been allied with Nissan, will decide by the end of January 2025 whether to join the venture, potentially increasing the total merger value to $58 billion.

Good morning! It’s Thursday, January 9, 2025, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know.

Honda may soon get its first opportunity to make a true full-size SUV and pickup truck, according to AutomotiveNews. After speaking with Honda Motor Co.'s executive vice president, Noriya Kaihara, the outlet learned that the merger between Honda and Nissan could give Honda access to Nissan's experience and knowledge in producing full-size body-on-frame trucks.

Nissan and Honda have collaborated on various projects over the years, mainly to share development costs and increase economies of scale in low-volume vehicle segments, including mini-vehicles and commercial vehicles. More recently they extended their collaboration to include the development of hybrid and autonomous driving technologies.

With their merger seeming increasingly inevitable, Honda and Nissan are considering more than just the benefits of cost savings on future electric products. With Trump returning t