The Detroit Three are facing an auto industry increasingly affected by the rise of China as demonstrated by the planned merger of Honda and Nissan.

The proposed deal aims to unify operations under a joint holding company, led by Honda, while maintaining the distinct identities of each brand, according to Honda's president, Toshihiro Mibe. If finalized, the merger would position the combined entity to better compete with market leaders Toyota and Volkswagen.

A prerequisite for the merger is for Nissan to complete its business turnaround, Mibe added. Honda and Nissan are the second and third largest automakers in Japan, respectively. I

Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans for a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry that's in flux as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels.

Facing extreme competitive pressure from the rise of Chinese EV makers, the Nos. 2 and 3 Japanese automakers turn to each other to build strength.

Two major Japanese automakers announced their intentions to merge Monday, aiming to create the world’s third-largest automaker in an industry facing radical change with electric vehicles and emerging Chinese automakers.

Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels.

Moody's gave a positive review of the potential merger of Honda and Nissan, but former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn warned his old employer would face "carnage" if the combination went through.

Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are joining forces to operate together under a single holding company, in a bid to stave off fierce competition around the world.

A tie-up with Honda could help Nissan solve a big problem, car dealers said: It doesn't have any hybrids. A merger could fix that.