The Mercedes-Benz Pension Trust has made a strategic decision to liquidate its substantial investment in Nissan Motor, a move that signals a significant shift in its portfolio and underscores the ongoing financial pressures facing the Japanese automaker. This divestment, involving a considerable 3.8% stake, is anticipated to further exacerbate Nissan's stock market woes. Nissan has been grappling with a confluence of adverse factors, including the impact of U.S. tariffs, an extensive restructuring program, and a noticeable downturn in sales figures, all of which have collectively contributed to a challenging fiscal year.
Mercedes-Benz Pension Trust Offloads Nissan Shares Amidst Japanese Automaker's Struggles
In a notable development on Monday, August 25, 2025, the pension trust associated with German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz officially announced its intention to divest its entire 3.8% stake in Nissan Motor. This significant shareholding is valued at approximately $346 million. A spokesperson for the Stuttgart-based automaker confirmed that this decision stems from the realization that the Nissan investment, initially transferred to the pension assets in 2016, no longer holds strategic importance for the trust's long-term objectives. The spokesperson characterized the sale as a prudent step in refining the trust's investment portfolio, aiming to streamline its holdings and reallocate resources more effectively. This move comes at a particularly sensitive time for Nissan, as the Japanese automotive company has been struggling to regain its footing amidst a challenging global market. The company has faced considerable headwinds, including the lingering effects of U.S. tariffs, an extensive internal restructuring initiative, and a notable decrease in sales volumes across key markets. These factors have collectively contributed to a substantial 24% decline in Nissan's share price over the current year, indicating a persistent investor apprehension regarding the company's ability to execute its turnaround strategy effectively. Notably, in early 2021, Nissan itself had sold its 1.5% stake in what was then Daimler AG (now Mercedes-Benz Group AG) to help navigate its own financial difficulties. The shares currently being offered by the Mercedes-Benz pension trust are priced within a range of 337.5 to 345 yen per share. This pricing represents a discount of between 4.96% and 7.02% when compared to Nissan's last closing price of 363 yen per share on the preceding Monday. The final pricing for this major transaction is slated to be determined before the opening of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the full settlement of the sale expected to conclude by Thursday.
This significant divestment by Mercedes-Benz's pension arm sends a clear signal to the market regarding investor confidence, or lack thereof, in Nissan's future prospects. From a reporter's perspective, this transaction underscores the volatile nature of cross-company investments within the automotive sector, especially during periods of economic uncertainty and industry transformation. It highlights how large institutional investors are meticulously re-evaluating their portfolios, prioritizing strategic alignment and seeking to shed non-core assets. For Nissan, this adds another layer of pressure, intensifying the need for their ongoing restructuring and turnaround plans to yield tangible results expeditiously. The substantial discount at which these shares are being offered also reveals the urgency behind the sale and the current market sentiment towards the Japanese automaker's valuation. It will be crucial to observe how Nissan's leadership responds to this further erosion of investor confidence and whether their strategic initiatives can successfully mitigate the impact and stabilize the company's financial trajectory. This event serves as a stark reminder that even established partnerships in the global automotive industry are subject to rigorous financial scrutiny and strategic realignment.