Honda is poised to make a dramatic return to the UK by manufacturing vehicles at Nissan’s sprawling Sunderland works in what would be a major boost to Britain’s beleaguered car industry.
The two Japanese car giants are considering a manufacturing partnership in which they will build vehicles at each other’s plants.
Honda and Nissan are locked in talks over a potential merger to create a carmaking manufacturing group with the muscle to take on the likes of Tesla and Chinese rivals.
Makoto Uchida, left, chief executive of Nissan, and Toshihiro Mibe, his counterpart at Honda, in Tokyo in August as the carmakers, along with Mitsubishi Motors, struck a “strategic partnership” in the electric sector
RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Honda was once a major force in the UK carmaking sector employing 3,400 people at its 370-acre plant on the outskirts of Swindon. After first gaining popularity in the UK with its motorcycles, it entered into a joint venture with British Leyland in the