Carlos Ghosn Isn’t So Sure About the Honda-Nissan Merger

“They are strong in the same fields. They are weak in the same fields. There is duplication everywhere. So industrially, for me, it does not make sense,” he said. Ghosn also noted that a merger would essentially mean a surrender for Nissan: “They are surrendering in a certain way, in panic mode, by saying, ‘Please help us.’”

Ghosn said that Honda doesn’t have much experience working with partners, and Nissan’s management can’t fix their issues alone. “I wonder how this is going to work. The seeds of conflicts or problems are already there,” he finished.

All of this might seem like bitterness coming from a deposed CEO living in exile, but Ghosn has plenty of experience turning around failing automakers, especially Nissan. He orchestrated the Mitsubishi-Renault-Nissan alliance and was its leader until he was arrested on charges of financial misconduct.

Ghosn did have a few good things to say about Nissan, specifically the Armada, the international version of which he said he drives. He said the Patrol (Armada in global markets) is a “great car” but noted that “you can have a great product without having a great company.”

[Images: Shutterstock, Nissan]

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