Japan's Nissan Motor is open to working with new partners including even technology firms after merger talks with cross-town rival Honda Motor foundered, people familiar with the automaker's thinking have said.

There's strife of the horizon as Nissan vehemently opposes Honda's suggestion of making the struggling carmaker its subsidiary.

Nissan and Honda, both major automakers based in Japan, responded Wednesday to reports that a potential merger of the two companies could beat risk of being abandoned.

A proposed $58 billion merger to create the world’s fourth-largest carmaker appears on the verge of collapse after Honda made an unexpected proposal to turn Nissan into a fully owned subsidiary, according to three people familiar with the matter.

TOKYO — Nissan is set to call off merger talks with rival Honda, a source said Wednesday, abandoning a $60 billion-plus tie-up that would have created the world's No. 3 automaker and raising questions about how it will drive a turnaround by itself.

The rumored collapse of merger talks between Honda and Nissan amidst the EV industry's transformation has thrust Foxconn into the spotlight as it continues to explore partnerships with Nissan and Renault.

Two of Japan’s largest automakers have been in talks to combine their operations to form one of the world’s biggest car groups.

Negotiations between Nissan and Honda are reportedly shaky after the two Japanese automakers previously announced they would merge by 2026.

The pair are discussing various options, including the possibility of withdrawing from deal talks, according to statements.