New Nissan boss vows to restore trust after Ghosn scandal

I worked for Nissan in Sunderland for 30 years retiring recently. I vividly remember those grey days of 1998 prior to Mr Ghosn and the alliance with Renault. We where making hideously dull cars and borrowing to pay our wages. There was actually only one way the company was going. Decisive and unpopular decisions (getting rid of Keiretsu for example) reenergised us and the knowledge sharing between the companies was an act of genius, But crucially both partners maintained their identity. Was the alliance with Mitsubishi a step too far for the proud Japanese?

Quote:

PARIS — Renault's former chief executive Thierry Bollore, who was ousted in October, had sought to flag alleged conflicts of interest and governance problems at the company's Japanese alliance partner Nissan before his departure, Le Monde reported on Monday.

And yet more and more shadiness coming from the Nissan side is coming to light.

Ousted Renault CEO Bollore raised concerns over Ghosn investigation

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ousted-renault-ceo-bollore-raised-135000883.html

All the scandals aside, just talking about their cars, in the USA, Nissan is tainted because of their continuous variable transmissions. Nissan owners I know love their cars, if it doesn't have that ridiculous transmission! Our rural mail man had a new Nissan and told me after only about 40k miles, transmission went out and cost over$2,500 to replace. Cannae be rebuilt! Anyway, Nissan used to be great. I hope they can make it.

Until they start making some decent, desirable models again, it won't matter how much trust they've restored.

What about Ghosn ?

Start by fixing that issue then talk about repairing Credibility ...

How about the Saikawa scandal?

How about the Japans legal system scandal?

Restore trust? Goodluck with that. The treatment of Ghosn is now part of the Nissan brand. Also, Nissan was always an afterthought compared to Honda or Toyota. I just don't see this company rebuilding itself for a number of reasons. Especially when they tried to metaphorically tar and feather the person that helped turn them around.

I totally agree. Now when people talk about cars from Japan, Hoda, Toyota, Mazda...maybe Mitsubishi...but Nissan will ALWAYS have the stigma it will take years to overcome. Good Luck Uchida-san!

Uchida said he wanted everyone in the three-way alliance to "respect each other... understand each other... be transparent, put any problem or issue on the table, without hiding. To show everything."

Be transparent without hiding, typical form of business in Japan

The 53-year-old, who was previously in charge of Nissan activities in China as well as alliance group purchasing,

This is important. Other than the NKMV kei car joint venture, Purchasing is the only area where the companies actually are working together as part of an alliance, using parts sharing and buying in volume to squeeze suppliers. (Google "Alliance Purchasing Organization" if you'd like to see more). In almost every other area, the companies are woefully lacking in any sort of cooperation or coordination. Mitsubishi engineers don't take kindly to being told what to do by Nissan engineers, I think it is safe to say. And although there may be French flags in front of Nissan facilities, any Nissan Japan plant is about the least "French" place in the world.

fagettabout it

fixed the headline: New Nissan boss vows to restore trust after Nissan scandal

Good luck with that. I think the damage is beyond repair. By the way, like others have mentioned, when are the other executives going to be put on trial?

Uchida said

"be transparent, put any problem or issue on the table, without hiding. To show everything."

Typical Japanese way of work

I wish they’d all stop referring to it as the “Ghosn scandal”. Especially in regards to trustworthiness. “Executives scandal” would be a better name for it.

Yes you are correct. But the problem is, that Japanese ( so-called) law is breaching human rights, as well as making a complte fool of itself.

Who ever heard of law that stops a defendant from contacting their spouse.

Are Japanese (so-called) judges completely stupid?

I wish they’d all stop referring to it as the “Ghosn scandal”. Especially in regards to trustworthiness. “Executives scandal” would be a better name for it.

Uchida said he wanted everyone in the three-way alliance to "respect each other... understand each other... be transparent, put any problem or issue on the table, without hiding. To show everything."

Is he talking about Ghosn or the shady architects of his downfall?

Good luck Uchidasan, you have a massive mountain to climb to regain respect and credibility for your brand and corporate culture in general . Not impossible, but there’s a lot of soul searching that must be done.

What an absolute snake in the grass this Saikawa is. Pretending to be the righteous one while pointing the accusatory finger at Ghosn with one hand and the other in the cookie jar! Japanese talk about honour but it appears the practice of it is based on simply not being found out. He has, along with the Japanese justice system, brought Nissan down. The only person capable of running it successfully they all stuck their knives into. If I was a Nissan stock holder I would be beyond furious! This was never about financial misconduct but rather about pride and fear of being swallowed up by Renault who’s only fault was it was not Japanese! Nissan is doomed to failure or being taken over by another automotive giant. Poetic justice if you ask me after the despicable treatment of Ghosn. I will never own a Nissan product nor will I ever purchase their stock because of this and I think a great many others feel the same way.

Well, Saikawa seems to have done pretty well out if the deal. But, so far as Nissan workers, Nissan owners, Japan's international image, and the Japanese public, no winners there. Saikawa enriched himself by dragging down the entire country.

Well, if I was a Nissan worker, my attitude would be, loosing my job would be a small price to pay. Human rights would be more important to me.

The day Ghosn was arrested was the day a great nation died.

What Nissan did to Ghosn and how it was done.... it was an "et tu Brute" worthy moment. A bunch of insiders that were not willing to cede power and sacrificed their leader to keep it. And the Japanese legal system was complicit....

Maybe the only silver lining is that Japan's "hostage justice" system might eventually be overhauled due to the publicity.

Ghosn was set up by Saikawa who walked away a free man. Nissans brand is tainted Japan's justice system tainted there are no winners here

Well, Saikawa seems to have done pretty well out if the deal. But, so far as Nissan workers, Nissan owners, Japan's international image, and the Japanese public, no winners there. Saikawa enriched himself by dragging down the entire country.

The Abe scandal is far more severe. The Tokyo electric scandal is far more severe. Yet, only Ghosn is behind bars.

Yes. Japan needs to drastically do something about it's legal system.

Ghosn did an amazing job with Nissan. Was he corrupted? Yes. I'm sure he cut corners and made moves to benefit himself. The Abe scandal is far more severe. The Tokyo electric scandal is far more severe. Yet, only Ghosn is behind bars.

Restore trust? Goodluck with that. The treatment of Ghosn is now part of the Nissan brand. Also, Nissan was always an afterthought compared to Honda or Toyota. I just don't see this company rebuilding itself for a number of reasons. Especially when they tried to metaphorically tar and feather the person that helped turn them around.

So, Ghosn has become the scapegoat for all of Nissans troubles? Nissan was in the poop when Ghosn took over and he rebuilt Nissan to be a viable business. Now, less than a year after their backstabbing coup they are back in the same poop under Japanese management. It is not Ghosn's fault. The only thing he is guilty of is, taking the same perks as all the other Japanese CEOs. He was railroaded because of his success as a foreigner in Japan.

Ghosn was set up by Saikawa who walked away a free man. Nissans brand is tainted Japan's justice system tainted there are no winners here. A name change and a new dynamic board might save what is now a poison chalice.

How about the Saikawa scandal?

In his first foreign media interview since taking office on Dec 1, Makoto Uchida told AFP he wanted everything laid bare "without hiding," as he seeks to regain credibility and sales for the once-mighty auto giant.

I think that everything is going to be "laid bare" at Ghosn's (so-called) trail. As the old saying goes "it all comes out in the wash".

As for rebuilding trust, I would say forget it, the damage has been irreparable done.