Core Viewpoint - Mitsubishi Motors is seriously considering relocating production back to the United States, actively pursuing collaboration with Nissan and Honda to jointly produce vehicles in the U.S. [3][6] Group 1: Current Situation and Challenges - Since closing its joint venture with Chrysler in Illinois in 2015, Mitsubishi has completely exited U.S. production, relying solely on imports for its sales in the market [4]. - This strategy has exposed Mitsubishi to multiple risks, including fluctuations in U.S. tariff policies and market demand, alongside high labor and material costs, leading to increasing pressure on its North American operations [4]. - In FY 2024, Mitsubishi's sales in the U.S. were only 113,000 units, about one-tenth of Nissan or Honda's sales during the same period, and the company reported business losses from April to September of that year [4]. Group 2: Collaboration with Nissan and Honda - The collaboration with Nissan and Honda is seen as a key pathway for Mitsubishi to break its reliance on imports and regain growth momentum in the competitive North American market [6]. - The core focus of this collaboration includes exploring joint assembly for mass production of cross-border vehicles and participating in the joint development of new models [6]. - Mitsubishi aims to finalize plans soon, with substantial progress expected before the announcement of its next mid-term plan, potentially as early as spring [6]. Group 3: Market Dynamics and Strategic Fit - The combined market share of Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Honda in the U.S. exceeds 15%, slightly surpassing Toyota, indicating that even small-scale joint production could significantly reduce costs and enhance market competitiveness [8]. - Nissan has assembly plants in Mississippi and Tennessee, but its capacity utilization has been declining due to weak market demand, while Honda's plants are operating at full capacity [8]. - Mitsubishi's lack of its own factories makes this collaboration a strategic fit to utilize Nissan's idle capacity and Honda's expansion needs [9][10]. Group 4: Historical Context and Future Prospects - The discussions for collaboration among Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Honda are not new, having been preceded by multiple rounds of negotiations [13]. - In March 2024, Nissan and Honda reached a preliminary agreement, laying the groundwork for future collaboration, which included sharing electric vehicle batteries and jointly developing autonomous driving software [14][15]. - However, Mitsubishi's participation in a proposed merger between Nissan and Honda faced challenges, leading to a shift towards a more open and pragmatic collaboration approach [19][21]. Group 5: Open Cooperation and Future Directions - The breakdown of the merger talks has not halted the collaboration process; instead, it has led to a more flexible cooperation model among the three companies [26]. - Nissan's new CEO has expressed an open attitude towards various forms of collaboration without touching on capital integration, emphasizing the importance of operational flexibility to meet market demands [28]. - Mitsubishi is also looking to expand its collaboration beyond production, with ongoing discussions about joint efforts in regions outside the U.S. [28].