Honda's CEO said it was "difficult" to explain why Nissan would make a good business partner. Analysts believe that Honda's ideal partner for a merger would be a more "healthy and financially sound company.

In a news conference on Monday, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the companies needed greater scale to compete in the development of new technologies in electric vehicles and intelligent driving. A business integration would give the companies an “edge that ...

Speed limits are usually intended to prevent drivers from going too fast. Occasionally, though, they warn against bumbling along the road too slowly. Honda Motor boss Toshihiro Mibe and his Nissan Motor counterpart Makoto Uchida will need reminding of this if they don’t soon shift out of low gear for the tie-up they proposed on Monday.