It all comes back to shareholder primacy. Dodge v Ford decided that corporations must act first and foremost in the interest of shareholders. And the more modern Friedman doctrine decrees that they should cater to those interests not only primarily, but exclusively, even at the expense of all others.

Honda could try a bargaining tactic like that. And their shareholders could sue the shit out of them. And the shareholders would win. Because our model of corporate governance is fucked.