A Nissan Honda truck partnership might sound like a wild rumour — but it’s real, and it could shake up the U.S. truck market in a big way. According to new reports, Honda could soon have its next pickup built not in one of its own plants, but at a Nissan factory in Mississippi. If this happens, it could be one of the boldest moves by any Japanese automaker in years — and a real challenge to Detroit’s truck dominance.
Nissan Honda An Unlikely Pickup Partnership?
After years of rumors about potential mergers and collaborations, Nissan and Honda may finally be joining forces — but not for EVs or family sedans. Instead, the two Japanese automakers are reportedly teaming up for something very American:
- A pickup truck. Built in the U.S.
- By Nissan. For Honda.
According to a report from Japan’s Nikkei, Honda is considering using Nissan’s underused Canton, Mississippi plant to produce a midsize or possibly full-size truck. That plant currently builds the Nissan Altima and Frontier, but with the Altima set to retire and Nissan’s EV plans delayed, there’s suddenly a lot of open floor space.
While You Care for Your Car, Care for Your Child’s Future Too 💖
A fun and educational book every parent should gift their kid.
Get Kiddy Store Fortune Now
Why This Makes Sense — For Both Brands
Let’s break it down:
- Nissan has the factory space, especially now that the Altima is on its way out.
- Honda doesn’t build body-on-frame trucks like traditional American pickups. The Honda Ridgeline is unibody, which hardcore truck fans tend to avoid.
- The U.S. imposes steep tariffs on imported trucks, so building stateside is a big money-saver.
- Nissan’s Canton plant was running at just 57% capacity last year — far below the level needed to stay profitable.
In short: this could be a win-win.
Could This Be Honda’s First “Real” Truck?
It’s unclear whether we’re talking about a rebadged Nissan Frontier with a Honda badge, a Ridgeline-style refresh, or something completely new. The Nikkei report teases that Honda may be looking to reach buyers interested in full-size pickups, which the Ridgeline isn’t designed to compete with.
But don’t hold your breath for a brand-new Honda Titan. Nissan just killed off its Titan full-size pickup last summer after poor U.S. sales. Developing an all-new truck from scratch would take years and a lot of cash.
Most likely? A Nissan Frontier-based Honda truck built on the same line in Mississippi. Minimal retooling, faster production, and fewer regulatory headaches.
What Nissan and Honda Are Saying
Both companies have been cautious with their words so far. Honda told CarBuzz that the report didn’t originate from them. Nissan didn’t deny it outright, simply confirming that the two brands are working together on multiple projects. That “no comment” stance might actually say a lot — because it doesn’t rule anything out.
Why This Matters for U.S. Buyers
If this collaboration comes to life, it could shake up a segment dominated by Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram. More competition means: More affordable trucks, Faster availability, Fresh designs from two of Japan’s most respected automakers It also shows that even fierce rivals like Honda and Nissan are willing to get creative to stay relevant in America’s toughest vehicle market.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not or not this truck partnership officially materializes, one issue is obvious — both automakers are adapting rapid.
For Honda, it may mean its first simply rugged, body-on-frame truck. For Nissan, it’s a hazard to maintain its U.S. Factories busy and applicable in a transferring marketplace.