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Nissan
launches Navigation in the GCC.
First to introduce Arabic voice guidance
NISSAN – (January, 2003) – Announce the introduction
of the Navigation System in all Nissan models and Infiniti across
the GCC.
As on going commitment to NISSAN customers in the region in providing
them the latest technology. NISSAN, proudly introduced the NAVIGATION.
Our Philosophy at NISSAN “Life is a journey, Enjoy the ride”
comes to life with the introduction of the “Turn by Turn,
voice guided Navigation”.
Nissan is the first Japanese car manufacturer to install the Navigation
System in its cars, which will be available under the name of “Navi
Edition” from Nissan and will offer a wide range of options
all packaged in a very user-friendly framework.
 The Navigation
System provides a group of solutions to drivers covering all their
needs and requirements when driving in urban or off-road areas,
which provides an added convenience in the region’s diverse
terrains. The map feature offers easy arrival to any destination
of choice, it is a guide that makes sure to get there. Thanks to
the satellite technology, Nissan’s Navigation System covers
all the GCC countries and presents to the driver detailed routing
of major cities and towns in the GCC. The System’s simplicity
is also manifested in operating it; a very direct and easy main
menu is simple and provides an easy way to select the option you
require to get you on your way. No complicated menu’s, one
button for one function.
Nissan’s Navigation System has feature called Points Of Interest.
This section has a list of airports, restaurants, shopping malls,
hospitals, Police departments, fire stations, gas stations, pharmacies
and many more prominent establishments that customers frequently
use.
The Navigation System also provides the option of giving the driver
alternative routes if required. The driver can change his route
and getting to his point of arrival by following the instructions
given by the system.
The Navigation System also speeds up address entry by dividing
the GCC into areas. The System allows for a detailed search of specific
areas in the GCC, which eases the process of locating a street that
goes by the same name of streets in other countries or areas in
the GCC. This means when searching for a suburb or street that exists
in many other areas you will only have to search in the desired
area so as to avoid confusion for the driver. This is possible because
the Navigation System gives you the choice of how broad your search
can be (i.e. by city, by state, by region or throughout the whole
GCC region).
With the Nissan Navigation System you have user defined settings
and address books. This means that three users using a same vehicle
can have different color settings, languages or voices and even
the address books are their own.
Choice comes as standard with the Nissan’s Navigation System.
The voice guidance is available in Arabic or English or another
7 languages, with a choice of male or female voice.
The locate button instantly gives your current position with the
distance to the next road in front of you and the last road you
passed for added security. Ideal for emergency services and roadside
assistance. With this latest Navigation System, Nissan has it covered
down to the details. For example, the address entry is made by using
the patented “Quick Spell”. No letter is more than two
key strokes away using the unique 8 way arrow key.
Nissan’s Navigation System computer is one of the smallest
Navigation computers available, which operates in the harshest of
conditions. The automotive hard drive gives better performance and
storage capacity than DVD or CD rom.
Travel off-road with confidence. The Navigation System apart from
providing turn by turn on road navigation also offers a fully functional
off-road feature. This provides all the required GPS features, which
serious off road users expect and more!
The “Bread crumbing” function is a very useful feature
while venturing into the desert. The system digitally records your
movements and allows you to follow your electronic tracks when you
wish to return.
Rear parking sensors which is a part of the Navi Edition, will give
you an audible beep-beep warning if you approach an object while
reversing. Safe parking is ensured with Navi Edition.
The Navi edition with entertainment system offers an abundance
of features ranging from movies, audio, picture viewing, TV, tuner
and accessories. The movies section covers DVD, VCD and MPG2 movies
and as for the audio, the system is enabled to play CDs and MP3
CDs.
In addition to the above features, optionally other related accessories
like Roof mounted rear entertainment screen, game input adoption
and rear view camera, are available.
 Sharjah-
(October 29th 2002)— Arabian Automobiles Company L.L.C, the
sole distributor of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in Dubai and the
Northern Emirates, has added another feather to its cap by winning
the “Best Stand of the Year Award” for its Nissan stand
at the 6th International Automobile Show 2002, which was concluded
on October 27th 2002 in Sharjah.
During the Motor Show, held at the New Expo Centre Sharjah between
23 and 27 of October 2002, a jury of five judges was assigned for
the selection of the Best Stand. The five judges belonged to different
sectors/industries related to the automotive industry ranging from
Sharjah’s Government Department, Autoemirates.com management
(organizers of the award and official website for the event), leading
motoring media, Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF) to the Auto-Finance
industry.
The award was decided on a very neutral and scientific manner where
the judges carried out independent mystery-shopper visits to the
several stands representing leading names in the automotive industry
(including the frontrunner, Nissan) and accordingly placed their
scores based on a multitude of criteria.
The Autoemirates.com’s Best Stand award was granted for total
stand appearance/design, display of vehicles, spaciousness of stand,
level of information given to visitors, audio visual support, distinctiveness
of display (concept cars etc), and general friendliness, appearance,
attentiveness and hospitality of the staff. The criteria, which
the judges took into consideration while making the final pick,
ultimately was the visual and brand impact each automaker left on
the Show’s visitors.
The Nissan stand organized by Arabian Automobiles Company L.L.C
(AAC) won the highest points for its excellence in the above-mentioned
criteria against competition from brands such as Mercedes, BMW,
Mitsubishi, and General Motors to name a few. Also noteworthy is
the fact that Nissan was the only automaker to display a concept
vehicle during the Show; its highly stylized and powerful 350Z sports
car.
The award ceremony was held on the 27th of October at the Autoemirates.com
stand where Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa - Chairman of Sharjah’s
Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Mr. Rashid Pasha - Brand
Marketing Specialist and Project Manager for AAC’s stand at
the Motor Show.
Mr. Michel I. Ayat, General Manager at Arabian Automobiles Company,
commented by saying: “We are pleased to receive the award
for our stand which actually reflected the same high standards Nissan
has set for its Motor Show participation internationally. As a model
Nissan distributor, it was our endeavor to offer our valued customers
the same experience expected at a Nissan stand in any international
motor show and this award is proof of our commitment. We would also
like to thank the Sharjah Expo organizing team for putting together
a show of the highest quality”.
September 3rd 2002--Top Japanese
automaker rivals Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corp. said
that they would cooperate to develop “hybrid” systems
in a move they said would speed up the spread of environmentally
friendly cars. Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine
with an electric motor to make them twice as fuel-efficient as ordinary
cars of the same size. The tie-up would last for at least ten years.
The automakers agreed to exchange information and discuss joint
development of hybrid system components in the longer term to boost
efficiency and cut costs. The two companies expect that this collaboration
will contribute to further decreasing the cost of hybrid-vehicle
components, which should boost sales of hybrid vehicles around the
world.
One of the first projects would be for Nissan to install a hybrid
system currently being developed by Toyota in its vehicles. The
volume is expected to reach some 100,000 units within a five-year
period from 2006.The Spare Parts Division at Nissan’s
distributor in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Arabian Automobiles
Company- AAC, has once again won the Annual Purchase Incentive Award
for the fiscal year 2001-02 for achieving over 100% of the annual
purchase target for the purchase of Nissan Genuine Spare Parts.Nissan Middle east FZE’s
effortless yet grandiose method of awarding the winners was a trip
titled “The Tokyo Experience” . Each winner is granted
a week’s trip to Japan whereby he can tour Tokyo in addition
to Nissan’s main headquarters in the city.Nissan intended to set a new
trend this time around by sending one of its Branch-in-Charge from
Sharjah, Mr. Mathew Samuel, on this exclusive trip to Japan based
on his 23-year stint and consistent dedication with the Spare Parts
Department.
This award came in the aftermath of this year’s Annual Spare
Parts Dealers’ Meeting whereby representatives from the network
of Nissan’s 42 dealers, Parts Managers, and Front Line Sales
Staff were able to raise questions which were promptly replied to
by the efficient management teams of Nissan Middle East FZE and
AAC. The meeting saw dealers being awarded Appreciation Certificates
for achieving 100% of their Purchase Targets. The highlight, however,
was the distribution of long-term Association Plaques for four Nissan
Dealers who are associated with the Spare Parts Department for more
than one-and-a-half decades.
Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana, the sole distributor for Infiniti and Nissan
vehicles in Qatar, has launched the “Summer Spectacular”-
a distinguished campaign enhancing the “Total Ownership Experience”
which was put forth by Nissan together with Infiniti Q45’s
inception. The “Summer Spectacular” will last until
August 31st, 2002.
During this campaign Al Mana offers QRS 3 Million worth of value
added benefits such as 12 Nissan Primera A/T models by way of raffle
every week, free service up to 10,000 kms service, open in-house
credit facility welcoming both nationals and expatriates and free
registration complimented by highly attractive prices on all Infiniti
and Nissan vehicles purchased through the main showroom, Salwa Road
Showroom and the TV Roundabout Showroom. Customers would be eligible
for a raffle coupon on each purchase, which entitles for a raffle
scheduled one every Saturday.
Also noteworthy is the Total Ownership Experience (TOE), which this
“Summer Spectacular” is a manifestation of. Infiniti’s
TOE is a philosophy that fosters a unique relationship between retailers
and purchasers of new and previously owned Infiniti vehicles. Infiniti’s
Total Ownership Experience is manifested through retailer personnel
training, sales certification programs and advanced communications.
It also includes tangible features such as comprehensive roadside
assistance and service car loans for the new and pre-owned Infinitis.
One of the themes during this summer promotion would be, “The
earlier you buy any Nissan or Infiniti vehicles, the more chances
you get to win by entering the repeated weekly draws”.
The dedicated self-motivated team at Al Mana (with a commitment
to serve better) would redefine the shopping experience at Nissan-distributing
showrooms thus enabling the customers to crystallize their judgment
on a purchase.
(July 2002)— As with every congress or conference, there are
peaks and troughs in the quality of speakers and the appeal of their
papers to the audience. The 2002 IAA World Congress was no different
and thanks to Carlos Ghosn’s (CEO at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
inclusion in the program, the audience hall was packed the first
thing in the morning after a heavy night of Lebanese entertainment.
The standing ovation he received, the first of the congress, was
a sure sign of his star status.
In April, Ghosn was appointed as the Japanese car manufacturer’s
second representative to Renault’s board of directors. The
French car manufacturer acquired about 37% of Nissan back in October
2001 and increased its stake last March to 44.4%. The Renault-Nissan
alliance was also cemented by the latter’s acquisition of
13.5% stake in Renault. Ghosn, born in Brazil from Lebanese parents,
has received many nicknames in his professional career from “The
Ice Breaker” to “Le Cost Cutter”.
Ghosn explains the result achieved in Nissan not only by a close
attention to figures, but also by less tangible concepts such as
brand image and empowerment. “When we first arrived at Nissan,
we found a company with a lack of profit drive, customer focus,
cross-functional and cross border work and more importantly, a lack
of clear vision and shared mid and log term strategy. But it also
had a global reach, operating in 192 countries, had the best manufacturing
system and performance, cutting edge technologies in several crucial
areas of car manufacturing, as well as a talented workforce.
However, the main driver of the Nissan Revival Plan had to be staff,
who had to be re-motivated. For them to be proud to be working for
Nissan, we had to look objectively at our operations and avoid complacency.
We had to break taboos and address key issues very quickly, such
as the renewal of our product line-up, our brand power, our technology
and addressing new market segments and new geographical markets,”
he explained.
In the Middle East, there still are links to other markets, some
common trends that make local consumers close to their counterparts
in Europe, Japan, or North America. But there are some dominant
differences that set them apart and it is important to take these
into account if companies are to be successful here. Ghosn has clearly
adopted the “think global, act local” motto. “Each
region must be studied in terms of personality, with the common
aspects and the differences. Reducing the number of models to appeal
to common factors is not that important, our main focus is reducing
the number of platforms while still satisfying the differences with
specific designs.”
The success of the Nissan Revival Plan has led to a new three-year
plan, Nissan 180, which involves one million additional sales by
the end of the 2004 financial year, the top level of profitability
among car manufacturers and zero debt. Its ambition is to transform
Nissan from a good to a great company. If Ghosn pulls this off,
no doubt the Lebanese will print money with his face on it.”
The much awaited ultra Modern Showroom of M/s. Al-Hashar &
Company in Oman was inaugurated today in the presence of an elite
gathering including Mr. Norio Matsumura, Executive Vice President
at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. His Excellency Sayyid Hamood Bin Faisal
Bin Said, Secretary General to the Cabinet, inaugurated the new
facility on 27th of May 2002.
The entire showroom came alive with a brilliant show of light and
music as soon as the ribbon was cut by the Chief Guest H. E. Sayyid
Hamood Bin Faisal Bin Said, Secretary General to the Cabinet, in
the presence of Mr. N. Matsumura, Executive Vice President of Nissan
Motor Co. Ltd., Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar, Chairman of Al
Hashar Group of Companies and a number of dignitaries from different
walks of life.
Al-Hashar & Company started their operations in the early 1970s
with a modest showroom in Muttrah. Over the years they have grown
in stature to be one of the leading business houses in the Sultanate
of Oman with business interests in almost all aspects of economic
activity. However, automobile business remains the core of the group’s
activity.
The new showroom will house Nissan and Infiniti brand of cars for
which M/s. Al Hashar & Company is the sole distributors in the
Sultanate of Oman. Speaking on the occasion the Chairman of the
Al-Hashar Group, Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar said, “The
facility is Al Hashar & Company’s contribution towards
overall developments of the private sector in the Sultanate of Oman.
It also stands as a symbol towards our commitment to the customers,
which is main pillar representing the policies of Nissan Motor Company
Ltd.” The Chairman thanked the customers for their continued
patronage and all the associates of Al Hashar Group for teamwork
and dedication, which resulted in the development of this new showroom.
In his speech Mr. N. Matsumura congratulated Al Hashar & Company
on the opening of their all-new showroom and appreciated the strong
vision and commitment of Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar in enhancing
Nissan’s Image in the Oman market. He praised the leadership
and relentless pursuit of Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar in attaining
high levels of customer satisfaction and valuable contribution over
the 30 years of Nissan’s association with Al Hashar.
The new showroom rated to be one of the best in the entire GCC
has two Internet Parlors thereby ensuring the merging of information
technology highway with automotive technology highway. The majestic
new showroom is a landmark building located next to the Azaiba roundabout
and will certainly emerge as a benchmark for other automotive showrooms
in the Sultanate of Oman. With this new facility, Al Hashar &
Company has taken a giant leap ahead and re-defined the parameters
of Nissan customer satisfaction.
Dubai - Arabian Automobiles Company, AAC, Nissan distributors in
Dubai and the Northern Emirates, is offering exquisite offers during
the period of the Summer Surprises between 15th June and end of
August 2002.
The promotion is designed to offer customers the best deals they
can ever get during this season. The concept is very simple, buy
any Nissan car from any of AAC's showrooms in Dubai and the Northern
Emirates and get a direct cash rebate on the car purchased.
The heat of Dubai summer melted down Nissan vehicle prices. Extraordinary
deals can be availed from AAC this summer, with direct cash returns
upon the purchase of Nissan vehicles. AAC acquired a great reputation
in offering very innovative promotions and we will continue to surprise
our customers with attractive deals".
This promotion is applicable on Nissan 2002 models including commercial
vehicles. Any customer, who steps into AAC showrooms and wants to
buy a car, will automatically get a cash rebate on the car purchased.
Cash value differs from model to model.
A dedicated advertising and marketing campaign is designed to launch
this promotion, in addition to extensive showrooms decoration. The
advertising campaign includes print media and radio, and is as attractive
as the promotion itself.
AAC's extensive network of showrooms will receive you through its
trained sales teams who are ready to receive you and answer any
of your enquiries about his outstanding promotion.
The much awaited ultra Modern Showroom of M/s. Al-Hashar &
Company in Oman was inaugurated today in the presence of an elite
gathering including Mr. Norio Matsumura, Executive Vice President
at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. His Excellency Sayyid Hamood Bin Faisal
Bin Said, Secretary General to the Cabinet, inaugurated the new
facility on 27th of May 2002.
The entire showroom came alive with a brilliant show of light and
music as soon as the ribbon was cut by the Chief Guest H. E. Sayyid
Hamood Bin Faisal Bin Said, Secretary General to the Cabinet, in
the presence of Mr. N. Matsumura, Executive Vice President of Nissan
Motor Co. Ltd., Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar, Chairman of Al
Hashar Group of Companies and a number of dignitaries from different
walks of life.
Al-Hashar & Company started their operations in the early 1970s
with a modest showroom in Muttrah. Over the years they have grown
in stature to be one of the leading business houses in the Sultanate
of Oman with business interests in almost all aspects of economic
activity. However, automobile business remains the core of the group's
activity.
The new showroom will house Nissan and Infiniti brand of cars for
which M/s. Al Hashar & Company is the sole distributors in the
Sultanate of Oman. Speaking on the occasion the Chairman of the
Al-Hashar Group, Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar said, "The
facility is Al Hashar & Company's contribution towards overall
developments of the private sector in the Sultanate of Oman. It
also stands as a symbol towards our commitment to the customers,
which is main pillar representing the policies of Nissan Motor Company
Ltd." The Chairman thanked the customers for their continued
patronage and all the associates of Al Hashar Group for teamwork
and dedication, which resulted in the development of this new showroom.
In his speech Mr. N. Matsumura congratulated Al Hashar & Company
on the opening of their all-new showroom and appreciated the strong
vision and commitment of Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar in enhancing
Nissan's Image in the Oman market. He praised the leadership and
relentless pursuit of Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al Hashar in attaining
high levels of customer satisfaction and valuable contribution over
the 30 years of Nissan's association with Al Hashar.
The new showroom rated to be one of the best in the entire GCC
has two Internet Parlors thereby ensuring the merging of information
technology highway with automotive technology highway. The majestic
new showroom is a landmark building located next to the Azaiba roundabout
and will certainly emerge as a benchmark for other automotive showrooms
in the Sultanate of Oman. With this new facility, Al Hashar &
Company has taken a giant leap ahead and re-defined the parameters
of Nissan customer satisfaction.
 Dubai
(May 27, 2002)- Norio Matsumura, Executive Vice President at Nissan
Motor Company Ltd., arrived today at the Dubai Press Club (Dubai,
U.A.E) to announce the company’s complete consolidated financial
results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002.
In the presence of local and Pan Arab journalists and media representatives,
Mr. Matsumura gave a speech which was strictly in line with the
financial results the company had pre-announced on May 9, 2002.
Following his speech, Mr. Matsumura attended to the journalists’
questions in an interactive Q&A session followed by individual
interviews that were granted to local newspapers and a Pan Arab
satellite channel.
Mr. Matsumura then visited the TBWA\RAAD offices in Dubai (Nissan’s
advertising agency in the Middle East) where he greeted its staff
and showed appreciation for their dedicated efforts.
The bulk of Mr. Matsumura’s session with the media held at
the Dubai Press Club dealt with the Nissan results that were filed
on May 20th.
Dubai-(May 23rd 2002)- Attended by over 1000 press, media and advertising
officials from across the globe, the International Advertising Association
Congress (IAA) was held today in Beirut at the Beirut International
Exhibition and Leisure Center in which Carlos Ghosn, CEO and President
of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., was awarded marketer of the year.
In the presence of other international figures flying especially
to Beirut, Mr. Ghosn gave a speech that encompassed the crucial
role the advertising industry has played in marketing the Nissan
brand and bringing it back to profitability.
Mr. Ghosn’s speech pointed out the media’s neglect
of advertising as a primary contributor to the success of the Nissan
Revival Plan (NRP) saying that the coverage in the media focused
strictly on NRP factors such as the cutting of production costs.
The crowd of media attendees hailed Mr. Ghosn’s candid speech
with applause and granted him equal distinction in terms of the
coverage that accompanied the IAA Congress in Beirut.
Jean-Marie Dru, President and CEO of TBWA Worldwide, and Ramzi
Raad, CEO and Chairman of TBWA\RAAD Middle East, held a luncheon
honoring Mr. Carlos Ghosn on the occasion of receiving the International
Advertising Association’s IAA Award 2002; “Marketer
of the Year”.
The lunch was hosted at Eau De Vie of the Phonecia-Intercontinental
Hotel, and was attended by Nissan Middle East senior officials,
in addition to a number of Nissan distributors.
Also among the attendees were Arab and Lebanese media owners, publishers
and a group of leading businessmen.
With their usual high regard to their customers' satisfaction, Saleh
Al Hamad Al Mana, Nissan's distributor in Qatar, launched a sixteen-day
campaign in which all Nissan and Infiniti AC systems underwent free
examination and inspection, which inevitably entitled all the participating
car owners to a wealth of gifts.
The campaign took pace between the 4th and 20th of May 2002 with
a raffle draw taking place at the Al Mana showroom on the 22nd of
May. The idea behind the campaign is just one of the simple yet
innovative ways in which Nissan and its distributors interact with
their clientele.
The gifts ranged from principal AC car parts to miscellaneous gifts
of general interest. Over nine lucky Nissan and Infiniti owners
went home with generous gifts after their participation in the "AC
Examination" campaign. The campaign was first inspired by the
theme of the hot summer, which -in turn- inspired Al Mana to provide
a cool and comfortable service to their customers which ultimately
reflects Nissan's relentless pursuit of client satisfaction.
Kuwait- (May 2002)—Nissan Middle East (NMEF) has conducted
the Nissan Sales and Service Way (NSSW) training course in Kuwait
to enhance the local dealer’s sales and service capabilities.
The NSSW is a special program designed by NMEF for its network of
National Sales Companies (NSCs) staff that aims at sharpening and
upgrading their selling techniques.
The NSSW is one of regular training activities applied by NMEF
on a continuous basis, and addressed to all the NSCs in the region.
Nissan permanently aims at maximizing its sales and service standards
through a variety of activities, and the NSSW is the most recent
program to be applied in the region.
Ultimately, the NSSW, as a sales training program, will benefit
Nissan customers in Kuwait. The program is intended to help them
find the experience of owning a Nissan more delightful and pleasant.
The NSSW is one of Nissan Middle East’s aims to attain higher
levels of customer satisfaction and a true reflection of Nissan’s
policy of customer dedication. Service support facilities and a
very wide range of reliable Nissan models back the NSSW up as well.
 He’s
not called the Icebreaker (a moniker bestowed on him by Daimler
Chrysler Chairman, Jurgen Schrempp) for nothing. Carlos Ghosn seems
to break the rules and get things moving and rolling around and
that’s what he’s doing at Japan’s second largest
car manufacturer, Nissan.
Probably, a few years ago when he worked at Renault in France and
at Michelin’s US operations, it would have been difficult
to put a face to the name, Carlos Ghosn. But now, his name gets
instant recognition.
His move to Nissan in 1999 as its President and Chief Executive
Officer, after Renault took a controlling share in Nissan, put him
under the spotlight. It seems the entire world is watching him,
waiting for his next move, his upcoming action. He knew it and he
vowed to quit if Nissan wasn’t turned into a profit-making
venture by March.
When he joined Nissan, the company was suffering from a $5.5 billion
loss in the year to March 2000. Carlos Ghosn came up with the ingenious
Nissan Revival Plan or NRP, which seems to be working like a charm.
Nissan was in the black for the six months ended in September and
expects record profits of $2.3 billion in the fiscal 2001 and the
$5.5 billion loss is transformed into a record $2.7 billion profit,
surpassing all expectations.
But this feat came at a price. Ghosn had to cut thousands of Nissan
jobs, shut the first of five domestic plants, and auctioned off
Nissan’s aerospace unit.
But before we go any further into the man’s plan, let’s
take a look at the man’s path, which seems to be hugely related
to cars.
Carlos Ghosn was born on March 9, 1954, in Brazil. He graduated
with engineering degrees from Ecole Polytechnique and from Ecole
des Mines de Paris in 1978. Upon graduating from school, he joined
Michelin in France in 1978. In 1981, he was appointed plant manager
in Le Puy, France. In 1984 and 1985, he headed the research and
development of earth mover and agricultural tyres. He then served
four years as chief operating officer of Michelin’s South
American activities based in Brazil.
In 1989, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer
of Michelin’s North American companies. In 1990, he was appointed
Chairman, President and CEO of Michelin North America. He presided
over the company’s complete restructuring after the acquisition
of the Uniroyal Goodrich tyre company in 1990.
In October 1996, he joined Renault and was appointed Executive
Vice President of the Renault Group in December 1996. He was in
charge of advanced research, car engineering and development, car
manufacturing, powertrain operations and purchasing.
Appointing a Brazilian-born French executive as Nissan’s
President and CEO seemed outrageous for the Japanese auto industry
as well to the Japanese people, to see a foreigner sitting in a
position so high in a company like Nissan.
That was before, now nobody is asking any questions. Nissan is
in full expansion mode and is now planning to increase sales by
one million cars in the next three years as Carlos and Nissan head
towards stardom.
His Nissan Revival Plan has a code number, 180. At the last North
American International Auto Show in Detroit, Carlos explained the
Plan. It is designed to build profitable growth, with its name implying
one million additional unit sales worldwide, the highest level of
profitability and a zero debt environment.
With this plan, things are turning around. Nissan made profits
despite a very challenging market and by the end of 2001 the company
affirmed its forecast of 350 billion yen for consolidated operating
profit and 330 billion yen of consolidated net income.
But all of this wouldn’t go in for long without the right
cars to sustain profitability and expansion on the long run. And
this is exactly what Nissan is doing right now. For more than a
year now, Nissan has been dazzling show goers with its latest creations
of both production cars and concept vehicles.
In Frankfurt last year, Nissan introduced the all-new generation
Primera passenger car along with the all-new X-Trail SUV. Later
that year and in Tokyo, Nissan displayed nothing less than six cars
ranging from production to conception.
At the last Detroit show early this year, Nissan showcased four
new products including the final version of the 350Z sports car,
which will go on ale next summer, and the concept of the new Quest
minivan for 2003. For the Infiniti Division, the company unveiled
the all-new G35 that will go on sale this summer as well as a production
concept FX-45 crossover vehicle.
In Geneva two months ago, Nissan had two more surprises; a prototype
of the next generation of its sports car (the Skyline GT-R) and
a crossover SUV truck concept called the Yanya. The message is clear,
Nissan is in override mode and nothing seems to slow it down.
In an interview with MoneyWeb (an Internet based magazine), Carlos
Ghosn said, “ The plan is implemented and we are delivering
our promises of reviewing our relationship with our current suppliers,
restructuring our manufacturing, and reducing our general costs”.
He also said, “We are investing massively in our products
and technology to help us bring new products in 2002. The most important
contributing factor is that our people are committed to the turnaround
plan”.
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