Latest news with #MakotoUchida
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Rosslyn plant safe for now as Nissan commits to Africa growth
Nissan South Africa has broken its silence on reports that its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria could close as part of the Re:Nissan restructuring plan. Seven factories in line for closure The Citizen reports that in May, Reuters revealed at least seven of the brand's 17 global production sites face closure before the end of the decade. Those most likely are Oppama and Shonan in Japan, the Renault co-run Chennai and Santa Isabel plants in India and Argentina, and at least one of its three plants in Mexico. This follows the brand announcing a net loss of R82.2b earlier this year, coupled with a planned 15% cut in its global workforce from the original 9 000 announced last year, to at least 20 000 by 2027. The failed merger with Honda and the subsequent resignation of CEO Makoto Uchida have also been cited as reasons for the brand's worsening position. Rosslyn's dilemma One of the plants rumoured for closure, the 59-year-old Rosslyn facility – which currently only produces the Navara for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa – has been under scrutiny following the withdrawal of the NP200 in 2023. As a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Nissan cut its workforce by 400, despite its chairperson for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania regions, Guillaume Cartier, stating last year it is exploring production of a second model to fully utilise the plant's capacity. At the same time, Nissan's managing director for South Africa and independent African markets, Maciej Klenkiewicz, confirmed a study is under way into the feasibility of producing another model alongside the Navara. Sign of staying? Speaking at the launch of the Navara Stealth in Magaliesburg last week, Nissan president for Africa Jordi Vila suggested that, despite persistent rumours, the brand has no plans to exit South Africa or shut down Rosslyn. This comes after confirmation that the Oppama plant will cease operations by 2028, while the Chennai and Santa Isabel facilities may become fully owned by Renault, with current Nissan products continuing, albeit assembled by its alliance partner. 'We need to be proud of our heritage and where we come from. And when I look at Nissan's history in South Africa and the models, we should not lose that and [instead] build on it for the future. It is a market where we want to be from the past to the future,' Vila said. 'We are committed to growth in Africa and South Africa. Our plan is to grow – we grew with Navara and Magnite, and we want to grow the concept of built in Africa for Africa. 'We should be proud of producing this quality of vehicle (in Africa), and we don't want to give up on that,' Vila concluded.
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Nissan hints future of Rosslyn is safe despite speculation
Troubled Japanese brand's President of Africa has provided the biggest indication that it won't leave South Africa anytime soon. Nissan South Africa has broken its silence on ongoing reports that its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria is set to close as part of the Re:Nissan restructuring plan. Seven factories in-line for closure Back in May, Reuters reported that at least seven of the brand's 17 global production sites are facing closure before the end of the decade, with those most likely being Oppama and Shonan in Japan, the Renault co-run Chennai and Santa Isabel plants in India and Argentina, and at least one of its three plants in Mexico. ALSO READ: Reports claim Rosslyn to be one of Nissan's plants facing closure This after the brand, earlier this year, announced a net loss of R82.2-billion, with the added knock-off being a planned 15% cut in its global workforce from the original 9 000 announced last year, to at least 20 000 by 2027. At the same time, its failed merger with Honda, with the subsequent resignation of CEO Makoto Uchida, has been cited as a further reason for the brand's worsening position. Rosslyn's dilemma One of the plants rumoured for closure, the 59-year old Rosslyn facility, which currently only produces the Navara for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, has been a point of uncertainty following the withdrawal of the NP200 in 2023. The result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the move resulted in Nissan cutting its workforce by 400, despite its Chairperson for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania regions, Guillaume Cartier, maintaining as last year that it is looking into producing a second model to fully utilise the plant's capacity. At the same time, Nissan's Managing Director for South Africa and Independent African Markets, Maciej Klenkiewicz, said a study is underway in to the feasibility of producing another model alongside the Navara. Sign of staying? Addressing the media at the launch of the Navara Stealth in Magaliesburg last week, Nissan President for Africa, Jordi Vila, alluded to that, despite persisting rumours, the brand has no intentions of exiting South Africa or shutting down Rosslyn. This, after it was confirmed this week that the Oppama plant will indeed cease operations by 2028, while the Chennai and Santa Isabel facilities could become fully owned by Renault and result in current Nissan products continuing, though fully assembled by its alliance partner. 'We need to be proud of our heritage and where we come from. And when I look at Nissan's history in South Africa and the models, we should not lose that and [instead] build on it for the future. It is a market where we want to be from the past to the future,' Vila said. 'We are committed to growth in Africa and South Africa. Our plan is to grow – we grew with Navara and Magnite, and we want to grow the concept of built in Africa for Africa. 'We should be proud of producing this quality of vehicle (in Africa), and we don't want to give up on that,' Vila concluded. ALSO READ: Nissan's bleak outlook: revenue down, looming 20 000 job cuts
The Sun
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Boss of car brand ‘facing crisis' reveals ‘comeback plan' in ‘stormy' meeting after 20,000 jobs axed & factories shut
THE boss of a reportedly struggling major car firm has laid out plans for the company's 'comeback' during a "stormy" meeting. On Tuesday, Nissan's annual general meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan, weeks after announcing it will be axing 20,000 jobs. 5 5 It marked the first for new boss Ivan Espinosa who hopes to halt the Japanese company's decline through his plans for big cuts. These cuts also include closing seven plants and cutting a total of around 25% of Nissan's workforce. One shareholder reportedly accused the board of trying to 'shift its responsibility to frontline workers' by cutting jobs while retaining their own positions. Espinosa, who replaced Makoto Uchida as CEO in April, is a Nissan veteran, and all eyes are currently on him to revive the company. This comes after shares have fallen some 36% over the last year and dividend payments have been suspended, according to Reuters. Reuters also claim that shareholders vented their frustrations over the automaker's poor performance at the annual meeting, with some allegedly demanding greater management accountability for the deepening crisis at Japan's third largest company. Nissan reported a $4.5billion net loss in the last financial year, with there being no guarantee it will return to profit this year. In fact, so far, it has reportedly declined to give a full-year earnings forecast, and has estimated a first-quarter loss of $1.36billion. The firm also told MPs earlier this year that it is due to round up 2025 with debts of £10billion. All the same, Reuters reported that shareholders voted down a number of proposals that the company had opposed, including an activist-shareholder proposal that would have forced Nissan to take action on listed subsidiary Nissan Shatai. The manufacturer has put losses down to costs to carry out a strategy planned by Espinosa. Earlier this year, he made way for a £2.6billion decrease in the value of production and forked out £316million in restructuring costs. The restructuring included moves to axe 9,000 jobs internationally and the scrapping of a factory in Sunderland. Tokyo-based activist shareholder, Strategic Capital, allegedly pressed Nissan to take action on its listed subsidiary as part of its overhaul. While the proposal was defeated, the breakdown of the vote won't be known until next year. According to Reuters, Japanese companies are under increasing pressure from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and regulators to clear up so-called 'parent-child listings,' as they are seen as unfair to minority shareholders and a drag on governance. Strategic Capital had proposed that Nissan change its articles of incorporation so that it would be required to annually examine its relationship with listed subsidiaries and disclose what action it plans to take. Nissan's board have reportedly opposed this proposition, saying changing its articles of incorporation would hinder its flexibility. This follows Nissan announcing they were on the brink of collapse at the beginning of the year, as it entered a make-or-break 12 months. In addition to the new plans to cut back, bosses also have already announced that the management team will transition to a single-layer, non-officer framework, which means a 20 percent reduction in top positions. A spokesperson said in March, the move will create a 'streamlined and borderless organisation.' These changes were implemented on April 1 this year. The Sun has reached out to Nissan for comment. 5 5
Auto Blog
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Nissan's Shareholders Aren't Impressed by Its New CEO
Not a great start Despite being revered as a symbol of a new direction for the automaker, newly appointed Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa didn't exactly get a warm welcome at his first annual shareholder meeting since taking the position. On June 24, he found himself at the center of a three-hour public cross-examination at the company's headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, as frustrated investors didn't hold back their feelings of disappointment in front of the automaker's top brass. 0:03 / 0:09 Audi A5 replaces A4: So, what's changed? Watch More In Japan, annual shareholder meetings are events, as they are a semi-public opportunity for retail investors to trade words face-to-face with executives. However, Nissan's was expected to be twice as lively. Nissan Motor CEO Ivan Espinosa Interview — Source: Getty Images Espinosa faced his first public grilling As Makoto Uchida's successor, Espinosa faces a massive challenge in front of him. Previously, Nissan reported a massive loss of ¥671 billion ($4.6 billion) for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which ended in March. To make matters worse, the automaker announced during the meeting that it anticipates an additional loss of ¥200 billion ($1.38 billion) for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which raised numerous questions and demands for answers from shareholders. According to reports by Kyodo News, Bloomberg, Reuters, and Automotive News, the meeting quickly turned into a forum on Nissan's past mistakes and future direction, as every topic from failed partnerships to job cuts was on the table. Many shareholders grilled the top brass about the abrupt breakdown of Nissan's merger talks with Honda, a potentially game-changing move that fell apart. 2026 Nissan Leaf — Source: Nissan Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. To add a cherry on top, Uchida sat alongside Nissan brass at the meeting, which made him a target for angry shareholders who demanded answers about the lack of dividends in contrast to the departed exec's massive payouts, of which Uchida declined to respond. Others expressed their anger about the board's lack of accountability, especially after news broke that former executives, including former CEO Uchida, received large 'gold parachute' payouts despite the company's dismal performance. In total, Uchida and four other executives who departed in the March management shuffle that installed Espinosa as new CEO, received a combined payout of ¥646 million ($4.3 million) for leaving the company. 'Many demanded answers from Uchida and asked what the point of his attendance was if he was refusing to answer any questions,' said Tsuyoshi Maruki, CEO of Strategic Capital Inc., an activist investor, told Kyodo News. However, he praised Espinosa, noting that he had a calm demeanor amidst the rowdiness, adding, 'We'll just have to anticipate good results from now on.' Signage atop the Nissan Motor Co. global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan — Source: Akio Kon/Bloomberg via Getty Images 'I was not convinced by their explanation,' a 76-year-old Nissan investor told Kyodo. He states that he's been a loyal Nissan driver for half a century, and stated, 'They were just putting it all on the workers and firing them.' Another major source of frustration came from Espinosa's ambitious 'Re:Nissan' restructuring plan, which includes shutting down seven factories and cutting about 20,000 jobs. Per Reuters, one shareholder bluntly accused the board of 'shifting responsibility to frontline workers' by cutting jobs while protecting their own positions, adding that the board should likewise face a shake-up or risk losing the trust of shareholders and company employees. Despite the anger in the room, Espinosa addressed the tough questions. 'We understand your frustration,' he said to attendees. 'It will not be easy to deliver. But I am confident that we have what we need to rebuild our company.' He reassured that Nissan still has ¥2.1 trillion (~$14.5 billion) in unused credit lines and promised to restore profitability by the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Nissan Ariya at the automaker's global headquarters in Japan — Source: Getty Final thoughts Since taking the helm on April 1, Espinosa has been given the tallest of tasks. Steering the storied Japanese automaker back on the right track won't be easy, as Nissan has a lot of debt, and the Trump administration's tariffs on imported vehicles and parts could throw a monkey wrench in their books this fiscal year. However, recent developments, including its Renault share sale, as well as plans to possibly sell its $700 million Yokohama headquarters, show that Espinosa is clearly in cleanup mode and is not afraid to explore all avenues to trim the fat. Shareholders and analysts may be harsh now, but they may be more forgiving, depending on his progress. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile
Auto Car
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Micra-management: Nissan boss unwraps firm's comeback plan
Open gallery Like the only other non-Japanese CEO did before him, Espinosa will need to forge Renault relations New Leaf will spearhead Nissan's EV drive in Europe, joined by next-gen Micra and Juke Factory closures have been announced, but Sunderland will remain 'jewel of Europe' Espinosa wants hero cars like his Z to keep coming out of Yokohama Close New Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa has fine taste in company cars: he drives a Z to the office every morning. No wonder his predecessor, Makoto Uchida, described him as a 'real car guy'.
