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David Fickling

Nissan's Ignoring the Rot at Home

The carmaker is taking the path of least resistance by sacrificing overseas units rather than tackling bigger problems in Japan.

This one’s working all right.

This one’s working all right.

Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
Updated on

If you’re looking for a metaphor for how politics has swamped decision-making at Nissan Motor Co., look no further than reported plans to restructure its cratering global business.

Nissan doubled its planned job losses to 12,500 and unveiled new production cuts after reporting a 99% plunge in fiscal first-quarter operating profit Thursday. The Japanese carmaker is considering reducing production in Southeast Asia and Latin America, people familiar with the matter earlier told Ma Jie and Masatsugu Horie of Bloomberg News.