Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans for a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry that's in flux as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels.

Honda and Nissan have announced official plans to merge.The agreement seeks to consolidate a wide range of resources from platform sharing to supply chain systems in order to bolster the position of Japanese automakers in a rapidly evolving automotive market dominated by electrification and ongoing industry consolidation.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the Taiwan-based manufacturer of iPhones known as Foxconn, is putting its interest in pursuing Nissan Motor Co. on hold while the Japanese automaker is in negotiations for a potential merger with Honda Motor Co.