Japan to court Tesla on Nissan investment

21/2/2025 15:50

A high-level Japanese group, which includes a former prime minister, has drawn up plans for Elon Musk's Tesla to invest in Nissan following the collapse of its merger talks with Honda Motor, the Financial Times reported on Friday.



The proposal, led by former Tesla board member Hiromichi Mizuno, is being supported by ex-premier Yoshihide Suga and his former aide Hiroto Izumi, the report said, citing unnamed sources.



The group is hopeful that Tesla will become a strategic investor, since they believe it is keen to acquire Nissan's plants in the United States, according to the report.



Nissan in recent weeks has been searching for a strategic partner in the tech industry, with some board members suggesting Tesla and Apple as ideal targets, the report said.



"The Tesla factory is the product. The Cybercab production line is like nothing else in the automotive industry," Musk said, replying to a user sharing the FT report on social media platform X.