TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Taiwan's electronics giant Foxconn is in talks with Renault SA, the largest shareholder of Nissan Motor Co., to acquire the French company's shareholding in the Japanese automaker, a Foxconn source said Friday.

The move comes as Nissan and Honda Motor Co. have reportedly begun discussions on a merger to create the world's third-biggest auto group by volume. Foxconn's move may impact the course of the talks between the two automakers.

The Taiwanese company's electric car business chief Jun Seki, a former Nissan executive, is likely leading the stake acquisition plan, according to the source, and a Foxconn official has been sent to France, where Renault is based, for the negotiations.

The electronics maker, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., believes it will be extremely difficult for ailing Nissan to turn around its business on its own, the source said, adding, "We have some measures and are also considering the next move."

In November, Nissan said it will cut 9,000 jobs and reduce its global output capacity by 20 percent after booking more than a 90 percent drop in net profit in the April-September period.

Some industry analysts see the merger talks between the two Japanese automakers as Honda's move to salvage Nissan.