Nissan reportedly was in advanced talks to invest in EV maker Fisker in a deal which could provide the Japanese automaker with access to an electric pickup truck in return for giving the struggling startup a financial lifeline and another contract assembler.

The deal could close this month, unidentified sources told Reuters, adding terms under discussion included Nissan investing US$400m in Fisker's truck platform and building the planned Alaska pickup under contract from 2026 at one of its US assembly plants. Nissan would also build its own electric pickup on the same platform, a source told Reuters.

Nissan has US assembly plants in Mississippi and Tennessee and is no stranger to vehicle model sharing including past deals in Europe to share light commercials with the Alliance and pre-Stellantis GM Europe.

Reuters noted Fisker had earlier, when it announced it might not be able to continue as a going concern and would cut 15% of its workforce, it was in talks with a large automaker for a potential investment and joint development partnership. It did not name the automaker.

A term sheet is ready and the deal was going through due diligence, one of the Reuters sources said.

A deal with Fisker would help Nissan move into the growing US electric pickup market, the report noted.