Nissan's New CEO Espinosa Doesn't Rule Out Sale of the Company

Nissan's newly appointed CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has taken the helm amid crisis and is pushing forward an aggressive restructuring plan: closing seven factories and two design studios, and cutting 20,000 jobs. As a result, Nissan expects a net loss of $4.2 billion for fiscal year 2026. In an interview with the Financial Times, Espinosa acknowledged immense operational pressures, stating, "In this crazy world, anything can happen," and did not entirely rule out the possibility of the company being sold. Nevertheless, Nissan emphasized its commitment to remaining independent and plans to significantly shorten vehicle development cycles to enhance competitiveness. Earlier merger talks with Honda collapsed due to disagreements over control, while long-time ally Renault has gradually reduced its stake in Nissan and instead partnered with Ford to develop electric vehicles.