Why don't Japanese automakers acquire foreign marques?

[kernals12]

With the exception of the Nissan-Renault alliance, the number of non-Japanese automakers under the corporate umbrella of Japanese automakers is zero.

It's not hard to think of synergies: imagine Toyota imparting its reliability on Alfa Romeo or Jaguar.

Is it a cultural barrier between Japan and the West?

[kernals12]

Before anyone else says it, Japanese automakers did do various partnerships with European ones in the 1980s.



Famously, Nissan and Alfa Romeo collaborated to create a car with Japanese styling and Italian engineering.

[Max Rockatansky]

Or stuff like NUMMI. 

[J N Winkler]

For makers that rely heavily on their reputation for reliability (which Toyota does to a much greater extent than, say, Nissan or Mazda), there is enormous risk that is difficult to justify in taking on another manufacturer's quality problems, bad engineering decisions, and dysfunctional corporate culture.  Securing the supply chain--which the Japanese makers must do when they set up their own factories abroad, since tariffs in both the US and the EU are based on the percentage of components that are locally sourced--is hard enough to do.

[formulanone]

If you include China, Geely Automotive owns Volvo Cars.

Toyota partners with BMW on the Supra (A90). The engine is by BMW, and the transmission by ZF (usually Toyota uses Aisin for gearboxes).

Honda had a partnership with Rover in the 1980s, as well. We even received a few of them back in the US as the Sterling...imagine a Honda that tried to be a little more upmarket than an Acura, but far less reliable.

I can't speak for the cultural part, but I think there's not a whole lot to be gained but excess baggage for many of the manufacturers. In the last 20-25 years, Japanese brands sell many more small cars in Europe than before, as they have plants in Europe to bypass a lot of tariffs. Daimler-Chrysler is a major cautionary tale of when multiple cultural clashes didn't mesh, and reliability/build-quality/image didn't improve.

Ideally, a Lexus with German-branded damping, steering, and suspension with Toyota providing the engine, transmission, and electrical/computer components would be wonderful. Have Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz provide the leather interior (but absolutely none of the electrics), and it would be perfect.

[kernals12]

If you include China, Geely Automotive owns Volvo Cars.

China is not Japan

[formulanone]

If you include China, Geely Automotive owns Volvo Cars.

China is not Japan

rEaLly?

[Stephane Dumas]

Honda had a partnership with Rover in the 1980s, as well. We even received a few of them back in the US as the Sterling...imagine a Honda that tried to be a little more upmarket than an Acura, but far less reliable.

They got even some Range Rovers in Japan rebadged as Hondas to go against the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/obscure-rebadges-from-around-the-world-part-2/

[vdeane]

For makers that rely heavily on their reputation for reliability (which Toyota does to a much greater extent than, say, Nissan or Mazda), there is enormous risk that is difficult to justify in taking on another manufacturer's quality problems, bad engineering decisions, and dysfunctional corporate culture.  Securing the supply chain--which the Japanese makers must do when they set up their own factories abroad, since tariffs in both the US and the EU are based on the percentage of components that are locally sourced--is hard enough to do.

And yet when Honda finally starts making mass market fully electric cars, they're all going to be re-branded GM vehicles.

[Henry]

Back in the Malaise era, all three of Detroit's manufacturers had long-term partnerships with Japanese brands (GM with Isuzu, Ford with Mazda, and Chrysler with Mitsubishi). And this was at a time when the automobile as a whole was in its own sorry state, with our now-infamous thread to back it up.

[Joseph R P]

For makers that rely heavily on their reputation for reliability (which Toyota does to a much greater extent than, say, Nissan or Mazda), there is enormous risk that is difficult to justify in taking on another manufacturer's quality problems, bad engineering decisions, and dysfunctional corporate culture.  Securing the supply chain--which the Japanese makers must do when they set up their own factories abroad, since tariffs in both the US and the EU are based on the percentage of components that are locally sourced--is hard enough to do.

And yet when Honda finally starts making mass market fully electric cars, they're all going to be re-branded GM vehicles.

That was actually shot down earlier this year: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45656762/honda-gm-affordable-ev-suv-cancelled/

I wonder how it'll affect Prologue production. There doesn't seem to be any source saying it won't be produced despite it, according to Wikipedia, being planned to be produced at GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico.