Mitsubishi Motors, a junior partner of Nissan Motor, is considering not joining a planned business merger between Nissan and Honda Motor, the Yomiuri online said on Friday. The report came after Nissan and Honda last year said they would begin formal talks on the merger that could potentially create the world's third-largest auto group.

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Sources revealed on Friday that Mitsubishi Motors, a junior partner of Nissan and Honda, is considering not joining a planned merger between the two Japanese automakers. While Mitsubishi will maintain its cooperative ties with both companies, it plans to remain independent and listed, according to insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity.