Makoto Uchida Steps Down As Nissan CEO

Nissan Motor Co. has appointed chief planning officer Ivan Espinosa as its new representative executive officer, president, and CEO, effective April 1, 2024. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about who would replace Makoto Uchida, who has faced mounting pressure to step down due to the automaker’s financial struggles and the collapse of merger talks with Honda.

Nissan confirmed Espinosa’s appointment in an official statement, adding that Uchida would be leaving his position. Uchida’s departure follows a decline in earnings performance at Japan’s third-largest carmaker and the breakdown of discussions for a potential merger with Honda. It remains unclear whether Espinosa’s appointment will revive those merger talks or lead to new partnerships. Nissan has not commented on whether it is considering investment from another automaker or external partner.

Espinosa, who joined Nissan in 2003, has spent a significant portion of his career in Mexico and has held leadership roles in Southeast Asia and Europe. He has been instrumental in product planning, development initiatives, and managing Nissan’s global product strategy and portfolio. 

In April 2024, he assumed his current role as chief planning officer, a position created as part of a corporate shake-up aimed at accelerating Nissan’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs). His appointment as CEO signals a potential shift in focus, particularly in electrification and innovation, as the automaker navigates a rapidly changing automotive industry.