Nissan CEO Doesn't Rule Out Selling the Company: "In This Crazy World, Anything Is Possible"

Nissan's new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, acknowledged that amid severe industry challenges, the company is not ruling out any options—including a potential sale. Since taking over from his predecessor, Espinosa has been pushing forward an aggressive restructuring plan: closing seven factories and two design centers, cutting 20,000 jobs, and forecasting a net loss of $4.2 billion for fiscal year 2026. Although merger talks with Honda collapsed a year ago, Espinosa stressed the need to remain open and flexible, stating, "It’s becoming increasingly difficult for a company like Nissan to stay competitive on its own." For now, however, Nissan remains committed to independent development, aiming to shorten its new vehicle development cycle to 37 months. The automaker is also rolling out several new models—including the Micra, Leaf, Xterra, and Skyline—to boost sales. Meanwhile, long-time partner Renault has reduced its stake in Nissan and shifted toward a partnership with Ford to develop electric vehicles.