By SEMA News Editors
Honda, Nissan Announce Plans to Merge
Honda and Nissan have announced plans to explore a merger, which would also include the participation of Mitsubishi Motors.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to start discussions about merging through the establishment of a joint holding company.
Mitsubishi, which is partially owned by Nissan, will determine if it will be involved in the merger by the end of January 2025, the company said.
"The MOU between Nissan and Honda…is aimed to serve as an option to maintain global competitiveness and for the two companies to continue to deliver more attractive products and services to customers worldwide," the companies said in a joint statement announcing the discussions.
For more information, visit honda.com.
IIHS Names 2024 Top Safety Picks
Nineteen vehicles from 11 brands earned Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the final group of ratings for the year.
The 10 winners of the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award are the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Infiniti QX60, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-70 PHEV, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Rivian R1S, Subaru Forester, Toyota Tundra crew cab and Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid.
The nine winners of the base Top Safety Pick award are the Audi Q8, Ford F-150 crew cab, Ford F-150 extended cab, Infiniti QX80, Kia K4, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Nissan Kicks, Toyota Corolla sedan and Toyota Crown Signia.
To qualify for either award in 2024, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests, an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels. In addition, a good rating in the original moderate overlap front test is enough to qualify for Top Safety Pick, but a good or acceptable rating in the updated test is needed for the "plus."
For more information on this year's Top Safety Picks, visit iihs.org.
SBI Acquires Precision Engine Parts
S.B. International (SBI), the Nashville, Tennessee-based valvetrain component manufacturer, has acquired Precision Engine Parts (PEP), a Las Vegas, Nevada, provider of valvetrain components.
PEP's integration into SBI's portfolio will strengthen product offerings and accelerate research and development efforts, the company said in a statement announcing the acquisition.
"Bringing PEP into the SBI family is a transformative step that will benefit both our clients and our industry," said Ryan Hamilton, President/CEO of SBI. "PEP has long been a pioneer in valvetrain innovation, and together, we're positioned to expand our impact and deliver a greater value to our customers worldwide."
PEP's operations will continue under SBI with plans to integrate their best processes, the company said. The acquisition allows SBI to offer an expanded line of valvetrain components, including bronze valve guides to be manufactured at SBI's headquarters in Nashville.
For more information, visit sbintl.com.