Nissan and Fisker, a union worth its weight in gold?

On one side, a century-old manufacturer lagging behind in the electric transition, and on the other, a very poorly managed tech gem. Nissan and Fisker have everything to get along!

For a manufacturer like Nissan, it’s difficult to have only two electric vehicles in its catalog, especially when one of them, the Leaf, is aging. Once this unavoidable fact is acknowledged, there are two ways to catch up. Internal growth by investing heavily in products that will only be profitable in several years, or external growth by acquiring a 100% electric manufacturer. What would be the ideal target? A young manufacturer, with one or two models, and a friendly image. If the manufacturer is struggling, it’s not a bad thing because it makes its shareholders more receptive to discussions, making the prey weaker.

Fisker in the crosshairs

Let’s look at Fisker. Its models are attractive, intelligent, and enjoy a very good image, but there’s a catch. Fisker is criticized for its poor service and support quality, and struggles to meet its delivery schedule. It’s no longer about setting profit records, but rather solving critical problems. Delivery, service, support… all sectors where Nissan is recognized as an excellence brand!

Nissan knows how to manage autonomous departments and proved this with its sporty branch, NISMO. The Japanese manufacturer successfully made it thrive by not just slapping badges on generic models. Sorry to say, but similar to what Renault does with Alpine, with an “A” badge often slapped on any SUV. Could the alliance with Renault be a hindrance to a partnership with Fisker? As luck would have it, this alliance just fell apart as Renault’s stake in Nissan dropped from 43% to 15% in 2023. No more blocking minority, Nissan is free.

A sensible union

If the Fisker-Nissan alliance is now beyond doubt, it should happen very soon. Nissan could then leverage Fisker’s new platform for the Fisker Alaska pickup to quickly and cheaply expand its lineup with a 100% electric SUV the size of the X-Trail, its top-selling traditional and hybrid vehicle. The Fisker Ocean wouldn’t necessarily compete directly with the Nissan Ariya, which is 20cm smaller. Instead, it could be offered as a sedan or coupe SUV. Finally, how could one not see the Fisker Pear as the heir of the Juke, which is nearing the end of its life.

In short, such a planetary alignment cannot be ignored by Nissan, which is willing to invest half a billion euros in this union.