Thursday, November 07, 2024

Nissan announces 9,000 job cuts, slashes sales forecast

By AFP
November 7, 2024

Nissan Rogue: — © Nissan USA
Hiroshi HIYAMA

Japanese automaker Nissan on Thursday announced 9,000 job cuts as it slashed its annual sales forecast, saying it was taking urgent measures to tackle “a severe situation”.

The company reported a 93 percent plunge in net profit in the first half as CEO Makoto Uchida told reporters that weak sales in the North American market were a major factor.

Nissan and its domestic rivals are also struggling to stand their ground in China, as fast-growing electric vehicle firms backed by Beijing race ahead.

“Facing a severe situation, Nissan is taking urgent measures to turnaround its performance and create a leaner, more resilient business capable of swiftly adapting to changes in the market,” a company statement said.

Nissan did not issue a net profit forecast on Thursday, having downgraded it in July to 300 billion yen – Copyright AFP Yuichi YAMAZAKI

“Nissan will cut global production capacity by 20 percent and reduce its global workforce by 9,000,” it added.

Uchida “will voluntarily forfeit 50 percent of his monthly compensation starting in November 2024 and the other executive committee members will also voluntarily take a pay reduction accordingly”, the statement said.

The firm now expects net sales of 12.7 trillion yen ($80 billion) — down from 14 trillion previously forecast.

But Nissan did not issue a net profit forecast on Thursday, having downgraded it in July to 300 billion yen. In the six months to September, net profit was just 19.2 billion yen.

“Net income is to be determined due to ongoing assessment of costs necessary for the planned turnaround efforts,” Uchida said.

Nissan’s “core” vehicle models are not performing as well as before in North America, he added. “From the cost perspective, and the brand-strength perspective, we will rebuild our brand in America,” Uchida said.

Among other measures, the automaker will reduce its stake in Mitsubishi Motors by selling shares back to the firm.

It said its stake in Mitsubishi will fall to around 24 percent from 34 percent currently. Uchida added that Nissan would keep close ties with the company.

Nissan has seen a turbulent decade that included the shock 2018 arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, who later jumped bail and fled Japan concealed in a music equipment box.

Ghosn remains an international fugitive in Lebanon and denies the allegations against him. He said he fled Japan because he did not believe he could receive a fair trial.

When asked about Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, Uchida said Nissan was “hearing various things, like tariffs, but it’s not just us”.

“We will be lobbying, and the direction of our medium- to long-term plans should remain, but we will conduct our business while monitoring the situation carefully,” he added.

Nissan shares slump after unveiling plan to cut jobs, production

 Nissan logo is seen next to a vehicle during the New York International Auto Show · 

Reuters
Updated Thu 7 November 2024 

TOKYO (Reuters) -Nissan Motor shares slumped as much as 10% in Tokyo trade on Friday, a day after the Japanese automaker said it would cut 9,000 jobs and 20% of its manufacturing capacity as it struggles with sales in China and the United States.

The stock was on track for its biggest one-day price drop since August. It last traded down 6.5% at 383.5 yen, just above a four-year low.

Japan's third-biggest automaker on Thursday slashed its full-year operating profit forecast by 70% and scrapped its net forecast altogether due to restructuring, which it said would cut costs by 400 billion yen ($2.61 billion) in the financial year to March-end.

Like many global automakers, Nissan is struggling in China where BYD and other domestic rivals are winning market share with affordable electric vehicles and petrol-electric hybrids equipped with advanced software.

Nissan is also challenged in the U.S. where it lacks a line-up of hybrids just as that vehicle type is in strong demand.

CEO Makoto Uchida said on Thursday Nissan had not foreseen hybrids' sudden popularity in the U.S. and that demand for revamped versions of core models had not been as strong as hoped.

Nissan's restructuring is the latest chapter in a long-running attempt to revitalise its business, having never fully recovered from the 2018 ousting of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn and scaling back of its partnership with Renault.

On Friday, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto declined to comment to reporters when asked his views on potential government support for Nissan.

Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory analyst Seiji Sugiura placed much of the blame for Nissan's U.S. hybrid situation on management that he said was mainly pinning hope on selling new EV and traditionally powered models.

"The company released its mid-term plan this spring, but it in the end there was no meaning to that. I think their understanding of the situation is completely wrong," Sugiura said.

Nissan's mid-term plan announced in March involved 30 new models over the next three years, raising global sales by 1 million vehicles, an operating profit margin exceeding 6% by the end of fiscal 2027 and total shareholder returns of more than 30%.

($1 = 153.2000 yen)

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

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