According to the former CEO, he knows the cause of the issues
Carlos Ghosn, the former head of Nissan and the Renault-Nissan alliance, continues to voice strong opinions about his former employer despite his controversial escape from house arrest in Japan to Lebanon in 2019. In a recent interview with BFM TV, Ghosn asserted that he had foreseen Nissan’s decline and the weakening of the alliance.
While the alliance still exists, its structure is evolving with reduced cross-shareholdings and Renault’s acquisition of Nissan’s stake in their Indian operations.
Ghosn directly blamed Nissan’s leadership for the company’s current struggles, citing “decisions that were too slow” and stating that “most of the problems lie with Nissan’s management.” He didn’t mince words, describing Nissan’s situation as “desperate” and suggesting it was “forced to go begging for help from one of its main competitors in Japan,” referring to Honda.
However, the proposed merger between Nissan and Honda ultimately failed. Ghosn believes this potential “super-company” was ill-conceived, echoing his previous statements to Automotive News where he suggested Honda was aiming for a “disguised takeover.” Honda later confirmed its intention to make Nissan a subsidiary rather than pursue a merger of equals.
Reflecting on these events, Ghosn labeled the Nissan-Honda merger attempt a “desperate move.” He also characterized the current Renault-Nissan alliance as “small and fragile” and described Nissan itself as having become “boring, mediocre,” claiming in his BFM TV interview that the company is “in the doldrums.”
It’s important to remember that Ghosn himself is a controversial figure, facing international arrest warrants related to allegations of misuse of company assets, money laundering, and corruption stemming from his time at Nissan. He famously fled Japan while on bail, though he has denied the widely reported story that he was transported in an audio equipment case.
