Honda Motor Co’s proposed acquisition of Nissan Motor Co could provide the scale needed to challenge China’s BYD Co, sales data revealed Wednesday. The move highlights mounting pressure on Japanese automakers to compete in a market increasingly dominated by China’s burgeoning automotive industry.

Honda Motor Co. absorbing Nissan Motor Co. could give the two struggling Japanese brands the scale they need to take on China’s BYD Co., sales figures released Wednesday show.

Globally, Honda’s sales last month slipped 6.7 percent to 324,504 units, while output tumbled 20.4 percent. Nissan’s worldwide sales declined 1.3 percent year-on-year last month to 278,763 vehicles, while production took a bigger hit at 14.3 percent.