Is Toyota the owner of Nissan?
No. Toyota Motor Corporation does not own Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Nissan is an independent company and there is no parent-child ownership relationship with Toyota.
This article explains the ownership structure, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, and how these relationships fit into the broader landscape of the Japanese auto industry, clarifying why Toyota is not Nissan’s owner.
Current ownership landscape
Key facts about Nissan’s ownership and governance help explain why Toyota is not the owner of Nissan. The following points summarize the main relationships that define Nissan’s position in the auto industry today.
- Nissan is an independent company listed on stock exchanges and governed by its own board of directors.
- Renault has historically held a significant stake in Nissan, and Nissan holds a stake in Renault as part of a cross-shareholding arrangement.
- The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is a strategic partnership among three automakers that coordinates product programs, platforms, and procurement, but it does not create a parent-subsidiary relationship with Toyota.
- Toyota has no controlling interest in Nissan, and there is no corporate ownership link making Toyota the owner or parent of Nissan.
In short, Nissan remains an autonomous company with a cross-shareholding structure tied to Renault and Mitsubishi Motors through the alliance, while Toyota operates as an independent automaker with its own lineup of partnerships and collaborations.
Toyota's relationship with Nissan
What people want to know about is whether Toyota has any ownership or control over Nissan. Here are the core facts.
- No, Toyota does not own Nissan; there is no parent-subsidiary relationship between Toyota and Nissan.
- There are no cross-ownership links between Toyota and Nissan as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
- Toyota's collaborations with other automakers exist (for example with Subaru and Mazda), but not with Nissan in terms of ownership.
- Any joint ventures or technology-sharing arrangements involving Toyota with Nissan would be limited to specific projects and would not constitute ownership.
Thus, the straightforward answer remains: Toyota is not the owner of Nissan. The two companies operate independently, with Nissan’s strategic positioning shaped by its alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi, while Toyota pursues its own strategic partnerships and platforms.
Historical context and alliances
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance emerged to boost scale, cost efficiency, and cross-brand technology sharing. Renault has held a substantial stake in Nissan, and Nissan holds a stake in Renault, enabling mutual influence within the alliance. Mitsubishi Motors is also part of the same group, sharing programs and platforms. Toyota is not part of this cross-ownership structure and does not own Nissan.
The alliance is a strategic partnership rather than a parent-subsidiary arrangement, existing alongside each company's independent governance and brand strategy.
Summary
Bottom line: Toyota does not own Nissan. Nissan remains an independent automaker with a cross-shareholding relationship with Renault and Mitsubishi within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Toyota operates independently and maintains its own networks of partnerships and platforms, but not with Nissan in terms of ownership.
