Japan Today
business

Mitsubishi Motors fires Ghosn; CEO to be interim chairman

47 Comments
By Yuri Kageyama

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

47 Comments
Login to comment

You would do exactly the same thing, if you were in Masuko' shoes.

I wouldnt until hes found guilty of something if he's acquitted then what!? are they going to rehire him!?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I know someone who is a design engineer for Nissan. He said when Renault took over they (Renault) thought the standards at Nissan were far too high. It seems Nissan have since adopted the Renault way, with reliability and quality dropping as a result.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

AgentXToday  02:51 pm JST

Do you know that Datsun, popularly voted as the all-time crappest cars in the world

You provide NO parameters like timeline.

You may as well be talking about Nissan-Datsun hardware from 1930s to late 1950s... Japanese wares at that time was made-in-china tier.

But the Nissan-Datsun of the 70s and 80s was a whole ‘nother beast. The Bluebird (510/610) sports sedan, Patrols, the small pickup truck and the Fairlady Z helped cemented Nissan reputation along with Toyota and Honda for quality, durability & dependability. While the 510/610 Bluebird sports sedan was busy flogging overpriced BMW 1600/2002 the Fairlady Z on the other hand single handedly slayed the British sports car marques and whatever what’s left of the Italian sports car scene not exclusively made by Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Add “performance” to Nissan’s durability & reliability & dependability in Nissan’s credibility and reputation when the twin godzillas like R32 Skyline GTR and Fairlady-Z31 (300ZX) started roaming the streets and especially highways. These twin godzillas were slaying the motorsports competition left and right and tuners from US & Japan were outputting 800-1000 RELIABLE horsepower for street racing.

All the above was made possible with mostly (if not all...) Japanese at helm and Nissan rightfully take pride of that.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Japanese companies use this tactics with foreign heads of companies , 1).They stay quietly with U , hoping to copy ,what U can do in that company and even try to be friendly and be on yr side nearly 90% of the time.

2).Badly educated and no moral type will do anything for money. These kind of people, they do not think of nobody but themselves and they want to in the lime light. Famous me , in the case of Saikawa. I have

seen many of this kind. Nissan & share-holders of Nissan and good Japanese in Japan Inc...............pls do not be cheated by guchi. BEWARE OF SWEET WORDS AND THE SENTENCE, I DID IT FOR U.To protect yr interests.This is the normal operadi of a small man.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Do you know that Datsun, popularly voted as the all-time crappest cars in the world, was bought up by Nissan?

Actually, I stand corrected. Worse yet, Datsun IS Nissan!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

HollisBrownToday 10:44 am JST

Yet his conclusion was to support Ghosn's removal as chairman. Weird logic.

Nothing weird. Mitsubishi Motors appointed Ghosn as the chairman just because he was the chairman of Nissan. Now, rightly or wrongly, he was dismissed from Nissan. It is only logical for Mitsubishi Motors to remove him form the chair. You would do exactly the same thing, if you were in Masuko' shoes.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Ghosn may have steered Nissan from bankruptcy but his le cost cutter meme almost ruined Nissan quality & durability reputation that was hard won during the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

This one actually cracks me up! What you say sounds very... er... patriotic.

Do you know that Datsun, popularly voted as the all-time crappest cars in the world, was bought up by Nissan? It kinda says a lot about Nissan, and has never been good for Nissan's PR. Perhaps one factor as to why Nissan ran into financial trouble before?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

To rebuild Nissan, Ghosn dismissed 20,000 Japanese employees and cancelled businesses with many affiliated companies. Corporations have responsibility for the society. His glory was gained at the sacrifices of them. What comes around goes around.

And not to mention Nissan quality & durability is a step down or two below Honda and Toyota during the Ghosn regime. Ghosn may have steered Nissan from bankruptcy but his le cost cutter meme almost ruined Nissan quality & durability reputation that was hard won during the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Renault has always been the weakest link in this auto alliance, so it's good to hear that this leacher will finally be culled. Good riddance to Renault and Ghosn

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

SOP here in Japan - fire any employee at once who is arrested, held, charged or even suspected of a crime.

Then when the news breaks, they can say with hands on their hearts; that the person is not an employee of their company, saving lots of face.

That's why they run away from car accidents and allegations of theft or molesting, as they know that life is over for them and their families...

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Haha bye bye Ghosn! hold on he hasnt even been covicted yet, if hes guilty he can rot in jail, if the Japaense and French goverments get involved then many are going to have egg on their faces.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

For example, "How many took early retirement packages?" "How many received substantial severance packages?" thats entirely beside the point, if Ghosn didnt axe 20,000 workers then the other 150,000 Nissan employyes jobs would be at risk if Nissan files for bankrupsy. this is the reason many J companies go bankrupt after the bubble they couldnt make the hard decisions to save themselves

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Do they want a wrongful dismissal added on to their malevolence? yes I agree ,

if Ghosn is cleared or there isnt enough evidence to charge him then what!? I can smell another Olympus style compensation payout, yet it will be sustancially higher for Ghosn. Why would you rush to axe somebody who hasnt even been found guilty yet, theyre not taking into consideration that the French & Japanese governments may get involved and that may end up killing any prosecution the J courts intend to bring. Better option is to wait for a conviction then you have an excuse to sack Ghosn, as its stands now Mitsubishi & Nissan are just asking for trouble.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

At first it seemed it was either Macbeth or Julius Caesar. Arrogant king brought by lesser but more honorable men, or competent leader brought down by jealous lesser men. Looking more like Caesar

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Haha bye bye Ghosn! Hopefully he enjoys his long time in jail and reflects on his crimes. No CEO is above the law

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

SchopenhauerToday 09:50 am JST

To rebuild Nissan, Ghosn dismissed 20,000 Japanese employees and cancelled businesses with many affiliated companies.

This has been widely reported from the onset. But bantering around the figure of 20,000 has little meaning unless we know what happened to those employees.

For example, "How many took early retirement packages?" "How many received substantial severance packages?" "How many were transitioned / retrained into other associated fields?" "How many were supported successfully in re-location?" "How many received nought?" etc etc.

If they ALL went from the frying pan into the fire, then that would be extremely troublesome, but until we know actually what future unfolded for them, blunt statements are just that, blunt & blank.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Remplacement with another sleeping robot.

What goes around comes around, they'll soon be bankrupt with Nissan in the near future.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

This is going to cause much embarrassment and trouble for J-Inc. in the future.

Let's hope so!

A slow decline for a (morally questionable) nation that has been propped up and hand-fed, while it took advantage of the west, for too long.

Absolutely.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Masuko said he did not know the specifics of the criminal allegations...Masuko said he was baffled.

"To be honest, I was shocked, and I couldn't believe it," he told reporters at Mitsubishi Motors' showroom at headquarters. "I still can't figure out why, and I just don't understand."

Yet his conclusion was to support Ghosn's removal as chairman. Weird logic.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

I dont know how Nissan and Mitsubishi will survive without him. He is being replaced by the same Japanese bureaucrat numbskulls that drive these companies into near bankruptcy in the first place.

The will surf of the back of his success for a while, once they realize they are not doing well again, some time in the future, the LDP and/or Nippon Kaigi will prop them up again, as now it is about saving face. Of course, this means that the taxpayers will ultimately foot the bill for J-Inc's incompetence, but われわれ日本人 etc...

The taxpayers will remain indifferent and malleable anyway (as their future is p'd up a wall)...

0 ( +10 / -10 )

This is going to cause much embarrassment and trouble for J-Inc. in the future. A slow decline for a (morally questionable) nation that has been propped up and hand-fed, while it took advantage of the west, for too long.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

Renault has kept Ghosn as chief executive, while appointing an interim chair while the company awaits more information about the allegations against him.

Oh, you mean they are letting him defend himself before they condemn him? As in innocent until proven guilty. Well, at least Japan can say they have a uniquely unique justice system along with their 4 seasons... It certainly doesn't work that way anywhere in the civilized world.

To rebuild Nissan, Ghosn dismissed 20,000 Japanese employees and cancelled businesses with many affiliated companies.

You keep saying this. Japanese companies are notoriously bloated with meaningless 'fat' scrambling to look important and busy throughout their 12 hour days (while their wife and kids become estranged to them). This is a well-known fact for anyone who has worked in J-companies. If you want to blame someone, perhaps the executives and senior managers before Ghosn's tenure should foot some (or all) of that blame? As for affiliated companies... we sometimes call that 'insider trading' in the west.

The numbers clearly prove that Nissan became profitable under Ghosn, so...

2 ( +12 / -10 )

Schopenhauer, if what you said was correct, then Ghosn isn't a good CEO. You can't cut the cost at the cost of people, you have to be responsible for them, for their family. A good CEO will transform business, not simply cut it, because anyone can do the cutting.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

44 million bucks is a lot of money to not claim. However, whether it was a legitimate swindle or some kind of administration bungle remains to be seen.

I dont know how Nissan and Mitsubishi will survive without him. He is being replaced by the same Japanese bureaucrat numbskulls that drive these companies into near bankruptcy in the first place.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

To rebuild Nissan, Ghosn dismissed 20,000 Japanese employees and cancelled businesses with many affiliated companies. Corporations have responsibility for the society. His glory was gained at the sacrifices of them. What comes around goes around.

-23 ( +0 / -23 )

Ghosn has not commented publicly.

Poor media reporting, because we all know that he's not being allowed to talk!

The Japanese justice system is a joke and all this case is doing so far, is making Japan and especially Nissan and Mitsubishi, stand out to the rest of the world to see for the pathetically illogical systems and true corrupt nature it really exists of!

6 ( +15 / -9 )

We have been told repeatedly by the prosecutors that Ghosn was arrested for under reporting his income, but yesterday it emerged that this "income" is actually a retirement payment that he has not yet received. I will also get a (small) retirement payment (退職金) when I leave this job, but that money is not reported as income until I receive it. Also, such payments are subject to change up until the moment they are received. Remember a few years ago many teachers suddenly retired before their 退職金 was cut the following year? If Nissan now decide that Ghosn cannot have this money there will be no grounds for arresting him.

I don't think the prosecutors have a leg to stand on and their case will collapse. Still, the objective of removing Ghosn as chairman has been achieved. I'd like to see Ghosn reappointed as chairman if no charges are made. Imagine the look on Saikawa's face if that were to happen.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

It seems matter of time prosecutors will find out clear evidences. It is reported he spent Nissan's funds for his personal purposes, so Mitsubishi does not want it. Just wait and see for a while.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

This stupid Osamu Masuko, don't this, don't that. If you don't understand, why would you replace him ?

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

@Schopenhauer

Japan inc. I am saying this as a Japanese who was wrongfully dismissed by an American manager. It is happening everywhere in the world.

So you managed two American large companies from bankruptcy into hugly profitable enterprises and then you got thrown in jail without being charged?

5 ( +14 / -9 )

kwattToday  09:21 am JST

Mitsubishi probably does not want to be embezzled the poor company's funds by Ghosn for his personal purposes if he came back. So they kick him out now.

is there proof of this or is this just more character smearing? Mitsubishi was paying the guy so they should know, if they are competent. How many on their board of directors?

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Mitsubishi probably does not want to be embezzled the poor company's funds by Ghosn for his personal purposes if he came back. So they kick him out now.

-23 ( +0 / -23 )

AustPaul

No. I did not lodge a complaint. He was a manager in Tokyo and it was accepted by the general manager in the States who visited Japan once in a year and did not know well what was going on in Tokyo. The manager who fired me was fired later for unknown reason. In human world, many unreasonable things happen.

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

well played.

-18 ( +0 / -18 )

@Schopenhauer - did you lodge a wrongful dismissal claim?

I think most of the posters think this to be unfair that Ghosn or his lawyer cannot defend the accusations as well as a lack of transparency on the matter.

This is a white collar crime and in most countries the suspect (he has not been convicted yet) would be charged by now and most likely on bail. I know I know, this is Japan etc...but is the system really fair to the accused? Is there no presumption of innocence?

5 ( +15 / -10 )

I am not surprised. A regime change happens once in a while.

-22 ( +1 / -23 )

I think I a powerplant in board room ,everything sound very fishy. Those guy are jostling for control. Fishy,fishy,fishy.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Stop bashing Japan inc. I am saying this as a Japanese who was wrongfully dismissed by an American manager. It is happening everywhere in the world.

-30 ( +3 / -33 )

...…..kinda sad watching Japan almost inevitably, constantly, get things wrong!...…..

Nissan & Mitsubishi SHOULD have done like France, confirm INTERIM CEO's.....but no & here we are today.

Folks, if this is what Japan Inc does to foreign CEO's,  than any of us working in lesser standing at J-companies are almost certainly still a LONG way from acceptance...

Tatemae is a hard one to read at times!!

5 ( +16 / -11 )

Thats ridiculous, can be held without charge that can be extended until they break. Or until the prosecution either trip over evidence, of "discover" some. Guess a 99% conviction rate needs a dubious means to survive. It's an embarrassment.

EXACTLY!! Moreover, most if not all of the time, time spent in custody is not recorded. And even if it is, it is not subject to public scrutiny- meaning there is nothing to stop them from torturing a suspect, which often happens according to many former detainees.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

By the time Ghosn gets out.... people will be tired of this story.... and both Nissan and Mitsubishi will have accomplished what they set out to do.... which was get rid of Ghosn at any cost.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

At the end of the day, the players in this "global alliance" line up according to their national interests and affiliation. This is why globalization is doomed to failure.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

But Masuko insisted the three-way alliance will persevere, saying it's critical for the automakers' futures, especially in working together on new technologies such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and connectivity for vehicles.

What else could he say? Mitsubishi is alive today because of Ghosn and their alliance with Nissan and Renault.

4 ( +15 / -11 )

Mitsubishi Motor’s CEO Masuko said he did not know the specifics of the criminal allegations… While Renault refuses to dismiss Ghosn "until there are tangible charges". - The difference between medieval justice by lynch mob and a civilized justice system.

14 ( +27 / -13 )

The two executives have not yet been charged. Under Japanese law, a suspect can be held in custody for up to three weeks per suspected charge without any charges being filed.

Thats ridiculous, can be held without charge that can be extended until they break. Or until the prosecution either trip over evidence, of "discover" some. Guess a 99% conviction rate needs a dubious means to survive. It's an embarrassment.

9 ( +19 / -10 )

based on what evidence? Seems premature. Do they want a wrongful dismissal added on to their malevolence?

7 ( +17 / -10 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites