Part 5/6:
Ghosn characterizes the potential merger as a desperate move rather than a strategic necessity. He argues that both Nissan and Honda are currently "on the defensive" in critical markets such as China and Europe. Rather than complementing each other's strengths, the two appear to be collectively retreating.
In contrast, Ghosn recalls past mergers in the industry, specifically highlighting the successful pairing of companies in complementary positions, such as Nissan's strengths in certain markets during the late 1990s when it merged with Renault. Currently, with both Nissan and Honda struggling in key automotive markets, Ghosn questions how a merger would effectively help either company.