NHK: Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda to merge next year.
The third-largest automotive group in the world is about to be born! According to NHK reports, Nissan and Honda have officially signed a basic agreement and will begin operational merger negotiations.
Nissan and Honda are expected to reach a final agreement by June 2025, with the new holding company going public in August 2026. The goal is to improve operational efficiency through the merger and enhance collaboration in advanced technology development to boost competitiveness. If successful, this will create the third-largest automotive group in the world.
Both parties stated at the press conference that while retaining their respective brands, they will achieve vehicle platform commonality through operational integration to reduce costs and accelerate the development of hybrid and electric vehicle products to respond to market demands.
Before deciding to merge, Nissan was facing a crisis of deteriorating performance. Nissan's largest shareholder, Mitsubishi, also announced that it is considering whether to join the negotiation process, with a formal decision expected by the end of January 2025.
Source: Reuters Nissan and Honda are about to merge! Both companies have been involved in the blockchain sector.
Both Nissan and Honda have been involved in blockchain.
As news of the impending merger emerges, looking back at past news about Nissan and Honda reveals that they have both been involved in the blockchain industry.
Nissan's involvement in the blockchain industry.
For example, Nissan announced at the beginning of December this year that it will launch a blockchain membership service 'NISSAN PASSPORT BETA' in January next year, with applications for pre-registration now open, planning to issue a limited number of 5,523 membership NFTs.
These NFTs are not only digital products but also serve as 'digital proof' to access various services, categorized into four types: 'FUTURISTIC,' 'PERFORMANCE,' 'CLASSIC,' and 'SMART LIFE,' which can evolve based on user preferences and behavior.
Nissan will provide a unique wallet for this service, allowing users unfamiliar with blockchain to use it securely, achieving high security and ease of use.
The plan will also integrate Discord's community features, allowing Nissan to connect directly with customers, share photos of new cars, travel memories, and collaboratively plan new services.
In late March 2025, Nissan will launch an experiential rewards program, allowing users to earn membership tokens by participating in the community and completing tasks, which can be exchanged for exclusive vehicle test ride rights and special NFTs as rewards.
Source: NISSAN PASSPORT BETANISSAN PASSPORT BETA is a blockchain membership service system.
Honda's involvement in the blockchain industry.
Animoca Brands Japan announced in January this year a collaboration with Darewise Entertainment to develop what is claimed to be a AAA online game (Life Beyond). Since the game involves cars, Honda is requested to supervise the vehicle and transport-related gameplay.
For Honda, this collaboration will bring new creative processes and a game virtual world and tokenized experience created through Web3 technology, creating new ways to interact with customers and opportunities for direct feedback.
Will the merger of the two major automakers also integrate blockchain resources?
The Japanese automotive industry is currently facing the rise of emerging manufacturers such as America's Tesla and China's BYD, which lead in electric vehicle and software development. Whether this merger can achieve a 1+1>2 effect will become a focal point for the market.
Both parties believe that after the merger, the new company's total revenue is expected to exceed 30 trillion yen, and operating profit is expected to exceed 3 trillion yen, with the opportunity to become a world-class mobility service company.
With the merger of the two companies, their experience and resources in the blockchain field are expected to be integrated, potentially bringing more innovative applications to the automotive industry.
For example, it is anticipated that new plans integrating the strengths of both companies may emerge in the future, creating a more complete user ecosystem. Additionally, blockchain technology may also be applied in automotive supply chain management, vehicle data tracking, smart contracts, and other areas, providing more digital transformation opportunities for the upcoming new holding company.
As the global automotive industry accelerates its transformation toward electrification and AI, the application of blockchain technology may become one of the important competitive advantages. This merger not only integrates the technological strengths of both companies but also provides greater development space for future innovative applications of blockchain in the automotive industry.
[Disclaimer] The market has risks; investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute investment advice. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. Responsibility for any investment based on this is borne by the investor.
'Nissan and Honda to merge! Both have been involved in blockchain, will the third-largest automotive group in the world be born?' This article was first published in 'Crypto City'
