what car companies are merging

[MacPhoebe]

Several major automotive mergers and acquisitions are currently reshaping the industry, driven by the high costs of developing electric vehicles (EVs) and software-defined cars. The most significant recent consolidation includes the Stellantis merger (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group) and Volvo Cars' full integration of Polestar. Looking ahead, potential collaborations are focused on sharing EV platforms and battery technology to survive fierce market competition. The core trend is strategic partnerships rather than outright mergers, as companies seek to leverage each other's strengths without full integration.

The following table highlights key recent and potential automotive industry consolidations:

Company/Entity 1	Company/Entity 2	Type of Deal	Status (as of 2024)	Primary Driver / Goal
Stellantis (FCA + PSA)	-	Merger	Completed (2021)	Achieve scale, share platforms (e.g., STLA)
Volvo Cars	Polestar	Full Acquisition	Completed (2024)	Integrate EV performance brand
Renault Group	Geely	Joint Venture (JV)	Ongoing	Partner on hybrid, ICE powertrains
Volkswagen Group	Ford	Strategic Partnership	Ongoing	Share MEB EV platform for European models
Sony	Honda	JV (Sony Honda Mobility)	Ongoing	Combine tech (Sony) with manufacturing (Honda)
General Motors (GM)	Honda	Collaboration	Ongoing	Co-develop affordable EVs
Toyota	Subaru	Collaboration (e.g., BRZ/86)	Ongoing	Share sports car platform, AWD tech
Hyundai Motor Group	Aptiv	JV (Motional)	Ongoing	Develop autonomous driving systems
Xiaomi	-	New Entrant	New (2024)	Tech company entering EV manufacturing
Apple	(Potential Partner)	Rumored Project	Speculative	Tech giant exploring automotive entry

The industry is moving away from traditional mergers towards strategic alliances. This allows companies to pool resources for specific, costly projects—like developing a new EV battery or an autonomous driving system—while maintaining their individual brand identities and corporate independence. This model reduces risk and provides the agility needed to compete with new tech entrants.

[OKendra]

From a consumer's view, it feels like car brands are joining forces everywhere. Stellantis is now the parent of Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Peugeot. Volvo just fully took over Polestar. The big reason is the insane cost of electric car tech. Instead of each company spending billions alone, they're partnering up to share the burden. For us, this could mean more features for the money, but it might also make different brands feel more similar under the skin.

[MarianaFitz]

It's all about survival in the EV age. The capital expenditure for new EV platforms, battery plants, and software is staggering. We're seeing a pivot to targeted joint ventures, like Honda and Sony creating Afeela. These aren't full mergers but deep collaborations. Companies get the expertise they lack—tech for automakers, manufacturing for tech firms—without the complexity of a complete merger. It's a smarter, more focused way to compete.

[CharlieDella]

The trend is less about massive mergers and more about strategic chess moves. Established automakers are forming specific alliances to plug gaps in their capabilities. For instance, Ford uses Volkswagen's MEB platform for its European EVs, saving years of development. Similarly, Renault and Geely are partnering on powertrains. This strategy allows them to stay nimble and allocate resources precisely where needed, especially in the race for software and battery dominance.