Nissan looking beyond auto sector to find partner

Noting that the industry is undergoing major structural reforms that require a lot of investment, Espinosa, Nissan's chief planning officer set to assume the presidency Tuesday, stressed he is open to picking a partner, whether it is Honda or a non-automaker.

At the same time, however, he clarified that collaborative ties with Honda will continue despite the rupture of the amalgamation talks, pointing to ongoing talks focusing on pure business tie-ups in various fields.

To put struggling Nissan on a recovery path, Espinosa proposed to shorten the new model development period to about three years from four and a half years at present and sell region-specific mainstay models in other parts of the world.

Fresh restructuring measures would be announced shortly, he added.

He also disclosed that Nissan will launch a fully remodeled Leaf electric vehicle in Japan during fiscal 2025, which starts next month, and a brand-new large minivan the following year.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

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