Ghosn Wants a Better Mitsubishi, Not a Merger With Nissan
Carlos Ghosn, the CEO for both Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, says a full merger between the two automakers is out of the question. Instead, he wants Mitsubishi to get its act together and strengthen the greater alliance, which also includes Renault. Nissan purchased a controlling stake in Mitsubishi for $2.3 billion in 2016 after the smaller automaker weathered years of profitability issues and admitted to posting misleading fuel economy estimates.
While Ghosn agrees that Mitsubishi and Nissan should co-develop a select number of vehicles, he wants to help the brand bring itself back from the brink by focusing on its strengths and fixing its weaknesses.
“A full merger is not on the table. We want Mitsubishi to reform itself,” said said at the opening ceremony for a new Mitsubishi factory in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Talks of a full merger had been rumored for some time, but the CEO’s words have extinguished that speculation for the foreseeable future. Instead, Nissan will likely invest its energy into hoisting Mitsubishi up in North America while taking advantage of its pre-existing production and distribution networks in Asia — especially as it relates to small affordable vehicles.
According to Reuters, Mitsubishi’s chief operating officer Trevor Mann said in March that the two automakers were already studying joint assembly options of pickup trucks in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, CEO Osamu Masuko stated that he believed Mitsubishi will possess a 10-percent share of Indonesia’s car market within three years. The brand currently holds a 6-percent share. Both companies are also deeply embedded in Thailand, but have shifted focus since Indonesia overtook it as the regions largest market.
[Image: Nissan]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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So, no Nismo Ralliart Skyline Evolution XII GT-R RS?
A better Mitsubishi? How hard can _that_ be?
Way off topic, but after seeing that picture of Chief Inspector Dreyfus I had to read the article in Peter Sellers version of Inspector Clouseau.
Renault is onwed by the French state and the Nissan board do not want the French Industry miinister on their board. They recently changed the "partnership" to prevent this, so no merger ever. Mitsu are much smaller and less strategic to the Japanese. The triton, or L200 is popular here. We're even getting a FIAT version god help us, but as I understand it, what you call midsize pickups aren't doing so well in the US. Hence you don't get the Amarok or the Ranger? In the UK as long as they can hold a 1 metric tonne pallet they are classed as commercial vehicles with tax braks. Leather seats, climate control etc. Put a fancy hard top on it and you have an SUV in all but name. You barely see a transit with auto-transmission but double cab L200/Ranger/Navara/Amarok/Hilux turbo diesel autos dressed up to the nines are everywhere. Without that tax break, there would be far fewer.