Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has reportedly emerged at the centre of plans by a high-level Japanese group for an investment in Nissan after the latter’s merger talks with Honda fell through.
According to Financial Times-cited sources, hopes were that Elon Musk’s electric vehicle giant could take a strategic stake in Nissan.
Including former Tesla board member Hiro Mizuno and ex-prime minister Yoshihide Suga, the group was said to believe Tesla may be interested in Nissan’s US plants.
Nissan had been in talks for a potential US$58 billion tie-up with peer Honda, though these subsequently ground to a halt.
For Tesla, such investment could boost domestic production after President Donald Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs, including on foreign autos.
Tesla head Musk appeared to bat off the suggestion in response to the Financial Times report though.
“The Tesla factory IS the product,” he wrote on X. “The Cybercab production line is like nothing else in the automotive industry.”
Nissan shares surged 9.5% on Friday following the report.