Honda is eager to ensure there's no foreign influence on its merger with Nissan, especially since Taiwan's Foxconn has been eyeing the ailing brand

Honda would like Nissan to buy out Renault’s shares in it, in order to head off unwanted foreign influence in the proposed merged company.

Nissan Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker founded in 1933 and the parent automaker of Infiniti and formerly Datsun. Nissan produces a wide variety of mass-market vehicles, including popular SUVs like the Rogue,

Honda, Nissan, and Renault's merger may take on a new direction, per Bloomberg. According to the outlet, Honda is worried that Renault, which owns about 35 percent of Nissan, may be bought up by a third party while the deeply complex merger works its way toward completion.

HONDA Motor has asked Nissan Motor whether it would be able to acquire Renault’s shareholding, according to a Kyodo News report, as the two Japanese automakers prepare to combine in an effort to gain scale in an increasingly competitive car market.

Honda reportedly wants Nissan to buy out the share Renault has in it, before the two Japanese brands shack up together in 2026.

Honda is hoping Nissan can buy back Renault's shares. But it'll cost billions. The plot thickens in the proposed merger between Honda and Nissan. Those familiar with the corporate automotive space will know French automaker Renault currently owns 35.