Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. confirmed ongoing discussions about potential collaboration on Wednesday but denied reports suggesting a merger decision. Nissan shares surged over 22% in Tokyo following reports citing unnamed sources that the two companies might merge, forming the world's third-largest automotive group. Meanwhile, Honda's shares dipped nearly 3%. The reports also indicated that Mitsubishi Motors, a Nissan alliance partner, was part of the discussions. The three automakers had previously announced plans in August to collaborate on electric vehicle (EV) components, such as batteries, and conduct joint research on autonomous driving software. Earlier in March, a preliminary agreement for cooperation between Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, and Nissan, the third largest, was made public. In response to the market reaction, Nissan and Honda released a joint statement clarifying that they are exploring "various possibilities for future collaboration" but have yet to make any final decisions. European satellites launched to create artificial solar eclipses A merger, if realized, could create an automotive giant valued at approximately $55 billion, based on the combined market capitalization of Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. Such a move could strengthen their position to better compete with industry leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Germany's Volkswagen AG. Currently, Nissan is reevaluating its alliance with Renault SA while addressing financial challenges. The automaker recently announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs globally, equivalent to 6% of its workforce, and reduce production capacity by 20%. It reported a quarterly loss of 9.3 billion yen ($61 million). Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida has emphasized the need for greater efficiency and adaptability to market trends. He recently took a 50% pay cut to accept responsibility for the company’s financial difficulties. A twice-yearly shot could help end AIDS Honda has also faced challenges, with profits declining nearly 20% in the first half of the fiscal year due to weaker sales in China. The rise of Chinese automakers and the industry's ongoing transition from fossil-fueled vehicles to EVs have created a challenging environment for Japanese automakers. While a potential merger would increase their combined production capacity, Toyota, which produced 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, would remain Japan’s largest automaker. In comparison, Honda manufactured 4.2 million vehicles, Nissan 3.4 million, and Mitsubishi just over 1 million.

Bikes symbolize youth. Most young males possess a dream to rule the road riding a bike. Over the years, the craze has touched the young female group, too. So, the demand has risen to its highest. However, a new sense of style and modernism have got blended into it. Bike manufacturers are restless in introducing new bikes with better design and more attractive looks. From the same effort, manufacturers are to add some new models to their profiles. Here are some of the most exciting upcoming 150cc bikes in Bangladesh in 2021. Best Coming Soon 150cc Bikes in Bangladesh in 2021 Yamaha FZ-X The Japanese motorbike maker company Yamaha has introduced another 150cc motorcycle recently in India. It is expected to officially enter the Bangladeshi market this year. The bike will come in three different color variations- Matt Black, Matt Copper, and Metallic Blue. Yamaha FZ-X is powered by a 4-stroke, air-cooled, SOHC 149cc engine and has a retro style. The engine hasn't fallen far from the other FZ series bikes. The Blue Core 2-valve FI engine is powerful enough to provide around 12.4PS power only at 7,250rpm and a maximum of 13.3 Nm torque at 5,500rpm. A five-speed gearbox has been used to transmit the power to the rear wheel. Read Motorcycle Categories: Different Types of Motorbikes Explained The Yamaha FZ-X has a length of 2,020mm, a width of 785mm, and a height of 1,115mm. The motorbike features a 1,330mm wheelbase, which is comparable to the previous FZ15. The motorbike also has a 165mm minimum-ground clearance and weighs 139kg full tank.  For tires, it uses dual-purpose block pattern tubeless tires that size 100/80-17 for the front and 140/60-17 for the rear. Among other features, a bi-functional head LED Lamp, DRL, Led tail-light. 220mm rear and 282mm front disc brakes, motocross 7-phase adjustable rear suspension, etc., are the prime ones. There are two variants of the Yamaha FZ-X- one with Bluetooth connectivity and the other without. The official expected price for both bikes would range between BDT 2,60,000 to 2,70,000. In the Indian market, the price for the Bluetooth version is INR 1,21,800, and for the non-Bluetooth version, it's INR 1,16,800. Read Motorbike Buyer Guide: Some popular models with price in Bangladesh in 2021 Hero X-Blade ABS Honda Motorcycle and Scooter Pvt. Ltd has brought the ABS version of its previously released Hero X-Blade in India. The ABS version is now on talk to be officially launched in Bangladesh. Despite being the same version, the bike will come with some tweaks in its features for the Bangladeshi market. The X-Blade ABS, equipped with multi-category first innovations, guarantees improved braking performance. The under-cowl, cover of front forks, and rim stripes of the Hero X-Blade have got standard fitment, further stylizing its appearance. In the design segment of the X-Blade, consumers will get a dominating front stance and LED headlight. The Honda X-Blade is supported by the 162.71cc Honda HET engine, which offers a perfect mix of performance and efficacy. The X-Blade, which produces 13.93 horsepower at 8,500rpm and a max torque of 13.9 Nm at exactly 6,000 rpm, also boasts quicker acceleration. Read Best Motorbikes in the World in 2021 The engine of X-Blade has been particularly engineered to provide excellent lower and mid-range performance. The sleek X-Blade, as an all-rounder, also prioritizes comfort and security with a long seat, danger switch, and seal chain. Honda X Blade ABS will come in five distinct color variants- Matte Marvel Blue Metallic, Pearl Spartan Red, Matte Frozen Silver Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, and Matte Marshal-green Metallic. The Honda X-Blade (without ABS) is already officially available in Bangladesh at BDT 1,72,900. The ABS version will definitely cost a little more. Enthusiasts are expecting the bike to cost around BDT 2,00,000 to BDT 2,10,000. It has already been available in India at INR 87,776. Read Walton bringing electric bikes Honda CB 150 R Another Honda motorcycle, Honda CB 150R Streetfighter, is about to enter the Bangladeshi market any time now. The bike is an upgrade to its previous version and has come with some latest tweaks. The sleek design and revised bodywork, which added strong radiator shrouds, make the 2021 CB150R look attractive and very elegant.  The bike have two versions: a standard edition and a special edition. The former is available in two colorways: Macho Black and Stinger Red Black. The latter is available in Raptor Matte Black, Furry Matte Red, and Armoured Matte Grey. A dynamic engine cowl, a burned titanium finish on the handlebars, and stylish 3D logos all over the fuel tank round out the special edition. Honda has enhanced the ergonomics of the CB150R for 2021. Its handlebar is significantly tapered to provide a livelier riding triangle. The design is completed with a slant single-piece seat that appears to be roomy for two people. Read Motorcycle Loans in Bangladesh: Turning Your Two-wheeler Dream into Reality The CB150R has full-LED lighting, an upgraded instrument e-cluster, as well as a Showa 37mm USD fork. The latest LCD displays the gear position indication, speedometer, rev counter, odometer, and fuel level bar. The CB150R comes with a 149cc single-cylinder engine with 16.9PS as well as 13.8Nm of torque with a 6-speed transmission. Its power statistics are nearly identical to the 17.2PS of the Indian version of Honda Hornet 2.0, despite the Hornet's larger 184cc engine. While the engine hasn't changed significantly for 2021, Honda has increased the 150R's fuel tank capacity to 12-liters, improving its total range. Read Bangla Car: The First Car Made in Bangladesh The Honda CB 150R will get unofficially released soon. The official release might take place in 2022. The bike has already appeared in the Indian market. There the price starts from INR 1,51,000. However, the expected price for the CB 150R is around BDT 2,50,000 in Bangladesh. Verdict Few more famous names among the motorcycle manufacturing brands like Bajaj, TVS, etc., are expected to launch their latest products in Bangladesh this year. Different brands focus on different aspects relating to a bike's look, design, performance, safety. Consumers should figure which aspects of a bike they should give more emphasis before buying one. Among all the upcoming 150cc motorcycles in Bangladesh, these mentioned three are the most countable ones. If you want to purchase one, make sure it delivers what you are looking for. Read Best Car Loans in Bangladesh to Grab Your Dream Car

Bangladesh Honda Private Limited (BHL) on Wednesday introduced the all-new Honda Dream 110, the 110cc motorcycle exclusively designed for Bangladeshi mass people.

Japanese automaker Honda reported Friday a nearly 31% dive in its October-December profit as strong demand for its motorcycles failed to make up for falling vehicles sales.

Two different air bag glitches have forced Toyota and Honda to recall over 6 million vehicles worldwide, and both problems present different dangers to motorists.

Honda has become the latest automaker to report weaker earnings as global demand softens.