Speculation about a potential Honda and Nissan merger began earlier this month, and the two companies confirmed the official start of talks Monday.

Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. plan to merge under a holding company with the top executives chosen by Honda in a historical reshuffling of Japan’s auto industry meant to keep the country’s second- and third-largest players competitive amid a global onslaught of new competitors and technologies.

French automaker Renault , Nissan Motor's largest shareholder, is open in principle to the Japanese automaker pursuing merger talks with peer Honda Motor , two people familiar with the matter said.