March 27, 2025 – Nissan Motor Corporation is poised to welcome its new Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Espinosa, who has expressed his openness to collaborating with Honda or other potential partners, despite the abrupt termination of their merger negotiations last month.
Espinosa, set to assume his role on April 1st, underscores the significant investments required for the automotive industry’s transition towards intelligence, hinting at the possibility of partnerships. “I am willing to collaborate with Honda or any other company that can propel our growth,” he affirmed.
Taking the helm at a crucial juncture, Espinosa, currently Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, inherits a company in search of new avenues after the collapse of its planned joint venture with Honda to create a leading global automaker. His priority will be to seek partners for joint research and development in electric vehicles and related technologies, aiming to accelerate product updates and boost sales.
Espinosa noted that collaborating with traditional automakers could yield “synergies” in scale, powertrain systems, and battery investments. However, he added, “The question is, with whom can we partner to unlock the future of intelligent vehicles? Traditional OEMs still have shortcomings in certain areas.”
Foxconn, previously interested in acquiring Renault’s stake in Nissan, faced a mixed response. While Nissan was open to collaborating with Foxconn, it reportedly favored partnerships with large tech companies.
Espinosa admitted regret over the pace of product development but cautioned, “Driving change in a large corporation like Nissan is no easy feat.” He reiterated the company’s plan to slash the time from new vehicle development to production to between 30 and 37 months, from the current 50 to 52 months.
