CNA Explains: Honda-Nissan merger talks – why Japan’s automakers are scrambling to catch Chinese rivals

Why has Japan been slow to embrace electric vehicles?

There are a few aspects. One is the country’s passion for petrol-electric variants. Asian automakers have placed a lot of weight on hybrid cars, and profits there are projected to continue to rise until 2027.

Toyota, a market leader and a force of nature, has been slow to adopt Batteries, and everyone else has followed suit.

Second, Japan has fewer incentives to go fully energy than other nations, despite their green policies that strongly subsidize EVs.

According to a new study by Greenpeace, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are among the least environmentally conscious automakers in the world.

Japan’s GDP is on the verge of a collapse if it doesn’t switch to producing EVs, as auto manufacturing accounts for nearly a fifth of its exports, according to a statement from the Climate Group non-profit. If the automobile sector is in decline, this could also lead to significant job losses.

Asian automakers are now attempting to reclaim their position in the world of electric vehicles by investing more in solid-state batteries that demand more quickly and last longer than those made by China.

In March, Nissan and Honda had previously agreed to study the viability of a proper agreement in making EV vehicles and systems, to cut costs and improve profitability.

Nissan and Honda then announced in August that they would work together to develop self-driving software and introduce an electric vehicle ( EV ) by 2030.

The company’s strategy includes Mitsubishi Motors, of which Nissan is the largest investor and holds a 27 % interest.

The three companies may have a combined monthly production of about 8 million cars.

Though Japan’s automakers have to get up in areas like power prices and vehicles design,” they are not much behind”, said Mr Vivek Vaidya, associate companion at the Frost &amp, Sullivan firm.

” China did not produce the first commercially successful EV. It was manufactured by Nissan- the Nissan Leaf”, he pointed out to CNA’s East Asia Now.

If the consolidation is successful, Nissan will have the financial resources of a bigger mate and be able to “bring in better designs at a cheaper and better rate,” he added. Honda may also have access to a company with an EV and a device. ” This is a win-win situation for both”.