Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Nissan have announced a merger, leaving drivers wondering what the phoenix brand will be called. Japan’s second and third biggest automakers, behind Toyota, are pairing up to fight back against the rising threat of Chinese dominance in the electric vehicle market. The two companies signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding in March, committing to collaboration on EVs, and on Monday confirmed the plans to fully merge—alongside Nissan-controlled Mitsubishi. But after the press conference in Tokyo, attention shifted to what the overall holding company might be called when the merger is finished, perhaps as early as late January. “Nissonda or Hondissan?” one X user asked, while another added: “Can’t wait to drive a Nishonda.” One person took a different view, saying: “Hondissan this, Nissonda that. No. Nonda. Or, the objectively more evil Nisson.”
