Daijiworld Media Network – Tokyo
Tokyo, Feb 21: A high-profile Japanese group, including former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, is pushing for Tesla to invest in Nissan following the automaker’s failed merger talks with Honda, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
The proposal, spearheaded by former Tesla board member Hiromichi, is backed by Suga and his ex-aide Hiroto Izumi, sources told FT. The group believes Tesla is keen on acquiring Nissan's U.S. plants and is hopeful it will become a strategic investor.
Nissan has been actively searching for a tech industry partner, with some board members eyeing Tesla and Apple as potential investors, the report added.
Responding to the news on X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, “The Tesla factory is the product. The Cybercab production line is like nothing else in the automotive industry.”
Musk had previously announced the "Cybercab," a futuristic two-seater autonomous vehicle, slated for production in 2026.
Following the report, Nissan’s shares surged 9.6%. The company, along with Tesla, Apple, and Suga’s office, declined to comment.
Suga, who stepped down as Japan’s prime minister in 2021, remains a lower house member, representing Kanagawa, Nissan’s home prefecture.