One of the vital controversial executives within the automobile trade will not be afraid to name issues as he sees them. After saying Nissan is “boring, mediocre” and in a “unhealthy place” whereas describing the Renault-Nissan alliance as “small and fragile,” the 70-year-old fugitive now has one thing to say concerning the newly shaped Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi partnership.
In a brand new interview with Automotive Information, Ghosn mentioned Honda is plotting a “disguised takeover” of Nissan and Mitsubishi. He believes that Honda is by far the largest of the three Japanese automakers, so it places the corporate within the “driver’s seat” to take management. Full particulars concerning the new settlement have not been fleshed out, however the former man in command of Nissan argues that Honda will name the photographs.
“I can not think about for one second how it may work between Honda and Nissan until it is a takeover, until it is a disguised takeover by Honda of Nissan and Mitsubishi with Honda within the driver’s seat. It should be a takeover, a disguised takeover.”
Ghosn informed Automotive Information {that a} tie-up with Honda was by no means on the desk throughout his tenure at Nissan. He served as CEO from June 2001 till April 2017 when he stepped down however remained the corporate’s chairman. He initially joined Nissan in June 1999 as COO when the Renault-Nissan alliance was established. That is additionally when Renault took a 43.4 % stake in Nissan. In late 2023, Renault determined to promote again 5 % to Nissan.
Earlier than becoming a member of Nissan, Ghosn performed a key function in restructuring Renault whereas serving as Govt Vice President of the French automaker. Throughout the Renault period, he turned referred to as the “Le Price Killer” as a consequence of his fierce restructuring agenda.
As a refresher, Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 on accusations of misusing firm funds and intentionally understating his annual wage for about 5 years. He subsequently fled home arrest in Japan in December 2019, escaping to Lebanon, a rustic that doesn’t extradite its residents. The story is kind of wild, contemplating the previous Nissan chairman left the nation late at night time utilizing a constitution jet whereas hiding inside a field. Talking with the BBC in 2021, Ghosn mentioned:
“The half-hour ready within the field on the airplane, ready for it to take off, was most likely the longest wait I’ve ever skilled in my life.”
In 2024, Ghosn leads a distinct life in Lebanon, educating at an area faculty and serving to out startups by providing his enterprise recommendation. As for the lawsuits he is nonetheless going through: “I’ve my attorneys. They’re taking part in with this.”
Concerning the newly shaped Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance introduced on August 1, particulars stay murky. Nonetheless, Honda and Nissan have individually inked a deal to work on batteries, electrical motors, and on software-defined automobiles (SDVs). Moreover, Nissan and Honda will complement one another’s lineups with combustion automobiles and absolutely electrical fashions. Nissan continues to carry a 34 % stake in Mitsubishi.
