A high-level Japanese group that includes a former prime minister has drawn up plans for Tesla to invest in Nissan after the collapse of its merger talks with Honda, the Financial Times said on Friday.

A separate Nikkei newspaper report said Taiwan's Foxconn has proposed forming a partnership with Honda with an ultimate aim of creating a four-way framework that would also include Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.

The Japanese group behind the plans for Tesla to invest in Nissan hopes the Elon Musk-led company will become a strategic investor, believing it is keen to acquire Nissan's plants in the United States, according to the Financial Times.