At the end of 2024, Honda and Nissan announced a merger to form a new company that will share products and ideas. Well, it’s been met with mixed reactions, to say the least. However, it did get me thinking about possible future automaker hookups, which eventually led to my question from last week.
I wanted to know what two automakers you think should merge next. We got some, let’s say creative, answers from you weirdos. Some of these link-ups were used to resurrect dead brands, others to share engineering experiences and a few that were just dumb for the fun of it. Regardless, you all let your minds run wild with this one.
Anyway, why don’t you hop down below and check out which automakers your fellow Jalops think should merge next? Are there any that stand out to you as actual good ideas? Let us know, we’ll put in a good word with the company.
Koenigsegg & Saab
Koenigsegg should buy the rights and bring back Saab. (Bring it home)
Take all the extreme tech and lessons learned from development of their halo cars, and use that experience to make modern, safe, and affordable vehicles for the masses.
Use the TFG (“Tiny Friendly Giant”) as base powerplant for most of them, in various tunings. I mean, it’s a camless 2.0L inline 3, that makes 600HP/443ft-lbf. The actuators also have the ability to switch the engine between 2- and 4-stroke cycles by controlling the number of power strokes in relation to the number of idle strokes. The variable displacement system allows fuel economy to be 15%-20% higher than a variable camshaft engine. Cold start emissions are also drastically reduced by 60% over a variable camshaft engine. According to Koenigsegg CEO Christian von Koenigsegg, when running on Gen 2.0 ethanol, the TFG becomes “at least as CO2-neutral as an EV running on renewable electric sources such as solar or wind.”
Sounds like a perfect alternative to full EV at this stage, doesn’t it?
One I wished that had happened Koenigsegg and Saab. a free-valve 9-5 would have been cool.
Submitted by: Knyte & thisismyid2
General Motors & Mazda
Not necessarily a merger, but maybe a partnership between GM and Mazda. Combine GMs legendary LS engines with Mazda’s famous handling prowess to create affordable performance cars!
It would still be an American car, so maybe they could name this mash-up after a city with car history? Something like... I dunno, Pontiac?
Submitted by: Anthony Thornton
Bro Down
Tesla + Hims + Crypto.com + Car tuner Hennessey
Submitted by: Yo... MTV Raps!
VinFast & Elio
The one that I really wanted to happen was Toyota and Lotus. One now? Hmm, how about VinFast and Elio? That could be fun!
Submitted by: Big Block I-4
Volkswagen & Ford
Seen from Europe, I’d find a VW-Ford merger a sensible move. Both are struggling automakers with different domains of expertise: The first only knows how to do cars, the second one only knows how to do trucks+ Mustang (Since the original Taurus, I can’t recall of a regular Ford car entirely designed in-house. All the C/D platforms had real Mazda or Volvo bits inside).
As a matter of fact, they’re already sharing sheets together on the European market, as the new VW Amarok and Transporter are Ranger and Transit-based, while all the Ford EVs beside the Mach-E going to be based on VW’s I.D.platform.
Submitted by: Adrian Svartasmetal
Chrysler Confusion
Chrysler with some other company that doesn’t make cars.
Submitted by: preparetosurgetosublightspeed
Jaguar & Mazda
Jaguar and Mazda.
Jaguar could become the luxury brand from Mazda, they could keep the same aesthetic and design and etc but have the reliability of Mazda engines.
Mazda could stay the same and perhaps benefit from a few things borrowed from Jaguar, for good measure.
( I know Jaguar is in the middle of a rebranding and revamping but that’s exactly why it’s the perfect timing. Might as well do it properly )
Submitted by: Yannick Wolfe
Lucid & Rivian
They’re both in a ton of debt so it’d never happen but a Lucid and Rivian merger would work so well.
Lucid and Rivian (as long as they remain separate brands).
Submitted by: James II & himynameisjaybackagain
Mitsubishi & Toyota
Merge Mitsubishi with Toyota. Then keep Toyota the compliance brand, Lexus the luxury brand, and Mitsu the performance brand with the resource backing of Toyota.
Submitted by: engineerthefuture
Ford & Tesla
maybe a weird idea, but: ford and tesla. it’s apparent that ford can’t adapt to electric car market. they offer like all trucks and no cars anymore and probably don’t have much capital either. on the contrary, tesla has lots of money, is all in with electric passenger cars but can’t reach to broader market as seen in failure of cybertruck. and now elon is allied with trump, so ford customer base wouldn’t complain. all considered, they would be good match imho
Submitted by: Arda Safak
Ineos & Jeep
Ineos should merge with Jeep. It certainly would be a gamble. You’d either improve the Wrangler, or ruin the Grenadier.
Submitted by: ceragan42
Ford & General Motors
I want a C8 with the Coyote.
Submitted by: BMW M5390lbs
None Of Them, Actually
Stop the merger bullshit. It does nothing good for the consumer.
Submitted by: Shane Youhouse