Nissan has appointed Ivan Espinosa as its new Chief Executive Officer, the company announced Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation over who would succeed Makoto Uchida.
Espinosa, currently Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, will assume leadership on April 1.
The decision follows mounting pressure on Uchida to step down amid a worsening financial performance at Japan’s third-largest automaker and the collapse of merger negotiations with Honda. It remains unclear whether Espinosa’s appointment will revive talks with Honda or attract investment from another potential partner.
Espinosa, 46, is a Mexican national who has been with Nissan since 2003. Though much of his career has been spent in Mexico, he has also held key roles in Southeast Asia and Europe. His tenure has included oversight of global product planning and development, as well as spearheading Nissan’s product strategy.
He has served as Chief Planning Officer since April 2024, a role he took on as part of a restructuring effort aimed at accelerating the company’s transition to electric vehicles.
“He’s a very passionate product guy,” said Christopher Richter, a Japan auto analyst at brokerage CLSA. “I think it sends a good signal that Nissan wants to give product a higher priority. The Nissan brand has been drifting for a long time, so putting a strong product guy in charge could be interesting.”
Nissan has faced prolonged challenges, including declining sales and leadership instability. The company has struggled to recover from the damage to its reputation following the 2018 ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who was accused of financial misconduct.
The automaker has repeatedly lowered its profit forecast for the current financial year ending in March, revising expectations downward three times. Nissan, like many legacy carmakers, faces intense competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that have disrupted the industry with advanced, software-driven models.
In addition to lagging in EV innovation, Nissan has encountered setbacks such as its failure to launch hybrid models in the U.S. and the ongoing repercussions of Ghosn’s controversial exit. The company also faces potential tariffs on vehicles exported from Mexico, a key manufacturing base.
Espinosa’s leadership will be closely watched as Nissan navigates these challenges and seeks to reclaim its footing in a rapidly evolving global auto market.
