Carmaker Nissan on borrowed time?

Ford is very N. America centric. Ford sold 4.5M worldwide. Almost half in N. America.

Nissan sold 3.3M, less than 1/3 in N. America. Ford and Nissan really don't compete - maybe around the edges. Nissan is very popular in countries you wouldn't find a Ford. This is why I do not believe Nissan will go under. There popular in markets that are still growing. They have just been very poorly managed for a long time.

Ford also has 3X the debt - but no one talks about Ford going under.

As a comparator - Toyota sold almost 11M. Total global market is 90M.
Nissan is in trouble in North America-without a doubt. There are many vehicle manufacturers that sell in other parts of the world and not in North America anymore. Fiat, Peugeot, and others once sold here who left who still sell elsewhere. Car companies are not known for floating the U.S. sales with profits from elsewhere.
 
Nissan is in trouble in North America-without a doubt. There are many vehicle manufacturers that sell in other parts of the world and not in North America anymore. Fiat, Peugeot, and others once sold here who left who still sell elsewhere. Car companies are not known for floating the U.S. sales with profits from elsewhere.
I agree with you - but they have had a lot more success here than those brands (and plenty of failures to be sure).

With all the plant closings for Nissan globally - like I said they need to shut about 40% of their capacity - there was a lot of whispers around the two plants here. But with the current tarrif situation, those all have stopped. If tariff's stay intact, it might help them a bunch.

I think they can be successful again in N. America if they focus on what there good at - reliable vehicles for the every man. Diesel HD pickups and luxury cars - not their market. A waste of limited resources.
 
I agree with you - but they have had a lot more success here than those brands (and plenty of failures to be sure).

With all the plant closings for Nissan globally - like I said they need to shut about 40% of their capacity - there was a lot of whispers around the two plants here. But with the current tarrif situation, those all have stopped. If tariff's stay intact, it might help them a bunch.

I think they can be successful again in N. America if they focus on what there good at - reliable vehicles for the every man. Diesel HD pickups and luxury cars - not their market. A waste of limited resources.

The Frontier is the best midsize on the market and the discontinued Titan was much better than it was ever given credit for.

Altimas were objectively a good car ... but discontinued largely because of their image and people not wanting sedans.
 
Better chance Mitsubishi disappears before Nissan. Nissan owners “self and wife” here not loyal to the brand she wanted to lease a new vehicle last fall and Nissan came through with reasonable rates over Honda and Mazda.
 
Mitsubishi only had one product that was different or unique and it was always seen as a joke. But Mitsubishi is a giant shipping conglomerate who just dabbles in the automobile market. It's so small on their budget and P/L sheets that I wouldn't be surprised if upper management even realizes they sell cars here. They don't need to but even if it's a tax writeoff, they don't actually need to be profitable.

They certainly buy a lot of transmissions from Nissan.
 
Mitsubishi hitched their wagon to Nissan, now they want to undo that:

https://www.autoguide.com/auto/manu...ishi-wants-nothing-to-do-with-nissan-44616949

A newer Mitsubishi dealership I saw looks like used car lots, rather than the larger footprint and more elaborate typical new car dealership. That's a bit of a turnoff for many.
Click bait piece. The key piece to me: "Mitsubishi will opt to develop an in-house platform when it redesigns the 2027 Outlander. The move undermines the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, as Mitsubishi seems to be distancing itself."

This is not new, nor incorrect. Both Japanese companies want out of the Renault mess. Additionally, when the Honda thing was happening - Mitsubishi wanted out of that one also - because in their words " Mitsubishi is skeptical about its ability to influence the partnership’s direction, given its smaller size compared to the other two automakers." https://www.autoblog.com/news/mitsubishi-considers-an-exit-from-honda-nissan-merger

So in short - Mitsibushi wants to steer their own path, and who would blame them - it only makes sense for every company. They can buy / license tech as needed. This whole "alliance" was your traditional Euro centric protectionism strategy.

I like Mits, FWIW.
 
The Frontier is the best midsize on the market and the discontinued Titan was much better than it was ever given credit for.

Altimas were objectively a good car ... but discontinued largely because of their image and people not wanting sedans.

The new Sentra is reputed to be larger, to help fill the shoes of the departing Altima. "Styling Language" to align with latest vehicles, like the Murano, and use a 1.5T 3 cylinder engine. They need a hybrid, though.

I hope the new car looks something like this rendering. That would be cool (other than the wheels, which would be a nightmare to clean)

Screenshot 2025-05-28 063047.webp
 
The new Sentra is reputed to be larger, to help fill the shoes of the departing Altima. "Styling Language" to align with latest vehicles, like the Murano, and use a 1.5T 3 cylinder engine. They need a hybrid, though.

I hope the new car looks something like this rendering. That would be cool (other than the wheels, which would be a nightmare to clean)

View attachment 281694
I would need to see it in person. It reminds me of something - I can't place what.

They need a hatchback variant, with a stick.

I like the current Sentra. However its pretty much impossible to find one with a manual. They get worse mileage on the cafe test apparently - which is my guess as to why. There made in Mexico and most sold there are manual trans?
 
I would need to see it in person. It reminds me of something - I can't place what.

They need a hatchback variant, with a stick.

I like the current Sentra. However its pretty much impossible to find one with a manual. They get worse mileage on the cafe test apparently - which is my guess as to why. There made in Mexico and most sold there are manual trans?

The current Sentra is automatic only. It's a nice looking car and a good competitor to others in the segment. But Nissan needs to keep the car simple and not try to upmarket themselves with it.

Versas had a manual available in the US in the current generation but they discontinued the car on the US market.
 
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The current Sentra is automatic only. It's a nice looking car and a good competitor to others in the segment. But Nissan needs to keep the car simple and not try to upmarket themselves with it.

Versas had a manual available in the US in the current generation but they discontinued the car on the US market.
Its available in Mexico with a manual. I did not know it was not here, I appreciate that piece of data.

I don't know how offering a hatch with a stick would be upmarket. Although possibly it would not sell.

Nissan historically has been good at making some affordable yet unique vehicles to catch public interest - Xterra, Juke. Even a Z car at one point was affordable?
 
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Latest news that I heard is that they have about 10 months of cash left at current consumption rate. I would also think that Renault and Mitsu will not be far behind if this indeed truly happens. There is way too much capacity in the industry for many of the "me too" brands to survive IMHO.
I must agree. Word is there is way way too much more than normal inventory sitting on dealer lots these days.
 
Kia/Hyundai and Nissan are a good match up. I don't really view any of them favorably.
Except minus an early 2000s cat issue, Nissan has mostly made reliable engines. Kia sure can’t say that. I’d put a couple of Nissans engines up there with some of the best made. Nissan screwed up when it went away from being straight up Japanese. Replacing the 2.5, which gets mid 30’s mpg, with that rattle box turd 1.5 is one of many screw ups. Cvts of late have become reliable, unfortunately the reputation was established. Over promised, under delivered. I’ve owned them since 02 and have only had 1 major issue and Nissan covered it under extended warranty @95k.
 
New rumor is a buyer will be Korea or China.
Foxconn (taiwan company, makes Iphones) originally wanted to buy a stake in Nissan - which was what lead the Japanese government to try to pair them with Honda. Apparently they did not like the idea.

Wouldn't surprise me at all about Chinese companies, or even the Koreans. I hope it doesn't happen. Nissan under pure Japanese leadership I think has a chance. Nissan run by committee - I doubt it.
 
Its available in Mexico with a manual. I did not know it was not here, I appreciate that piece of data.

I don't know how offering a hatch with a stick would be upmarket. Although possibly it would not sell.

Nissan historically has been good at making some affordable yet unique vehicles to catch public interest - Xterra, Juke. Even a Z car at one point was affordable?

They offered it for a few years with the Versa Note. No one bought them ...
 
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