Carlos Ghosn, one of the most controversial figures in the automotive industry, is known for his unfiltered opinions, and he hasn’t shied away from expressing his views on the latest developments involving Nissan. The 70-year-old, now living as a fugitive, previously characterized Nissan as boring and mediocre, stating that the company was in a bad position, and referred to the Renault-Nissan alliance as small and fragile. Now, he has turned his attention to the newly formed Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi partnership.
In a recent interview with Automotive News, Ghosn expressed concerns about Honda’s role in this new alliance. He suggested that Honda was orchestrating what he believed to be a disguised takeover of both Nissan and Mitsubishi. According to Ghosn, Honda, being the largest of the three Japanese automakers, was naturally positioned to dominate the partnership, effectively putting the company in control. Although the full details of the agreement have yet to be disclosed, Carlos Ghosn was convinced that Honda would dictate the terms of the partnership.
Ghosn indicated that he couldn’t imagine how the partnership between Honda and Nissan would work unless it was a takeover, suggesting that it would be a disguised takeover by Honda of Nissan and Mitsubishi, with Honda in the driver’s seat.
Carlos Ghosn also noted that during his tenure at Nissan, which spanned from June 2001 as CEO until April 2017 when he stepped down to remain as chairman, a partnership with Honda was never considered. He originally joined Nissan in June 1999 as COO, coinciding with the formation of the Renault-Nissan alliance, during which Renault acquired a 43.4 percent stake in Nissan. In late 2023, Renault reduced its stake by selling back five percent to Nissan.
Before his time at Nissan, Ghosn played a key role in restructuring Renault, earning the nickname “Le Cost Killer” for his aggressive cost-cutting measures as Executive Vice President of the French automaker.
As a reminder, Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 on charges of financial misconduct, including misusing company funds and underreporting his salary for several years. He famously escaped house arrest in Japan in December 2019, fleeing to Lebanon, a country that does not extradite its citizens. His escape involved hiding in a box on a chartered jet—a dramatic move he later described as the longest wait he had ever experienced in his life during the 30 minutes before the plane took off.
Now, in 2024, Carlos Ghosn leads a different life in Lebanon, where he teaches at a local college and provides business advice to startups. Regarding the ongoing lawsuits he faces, Ghosn remains unfazed, noting that his lawyers are handling the situation.
As for the Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, announced on August 1, details remain sparse. However, it is known that Honda and Nissan have agreed to collaborate on batteries, electric motors, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The two companies will also complement each other’s lineups with a mix of combustion and fully electric cars. Meanwhile, Nissan retains its 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi.
