From his self-imposed exile in Lebanon (where he arrived several years ago after fleeing Japan hidden in a box), former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has once again made headlines—this time with a scathing interview given to French broadcaster BFM TV.
“Nissan is on its knees, forced to seek help from one of its main domestic rivals,” said Ghosn, in one of his most direct attacks yet on the automaker he once helped rescue.
Carlos Ghosn’s verdict on Nissan Leadership and his own creature, the Alliance
Ghosn did not hold back in his assessment of the current state of Nissan, the company he once led to profitability and global prominence. According to him, the company’s downward spiral is a direct result of poor internal governance and indecisive leadership.
“Most of Nissan’s problems stem from internal management. The decision-making is far too slow,” he claimed.
He also took aim at the Renault-Nissan alliance, which he once championed but now considers fragile and diminished in influence. “It’s small and weak,” Ghosn said, noting that the cross-shareholding structure is steadily loosening—from 15% down to just 10%.
The failed Honda Deal
Ghosn also weighed in on the recently collapsed talks between Nissan and Honda, which had hinted at the possibility of a new Japanese auto giant. He dismissed the negotiation as a last-ditch attempt by Nissan to stay relevant, accusing Honda of attempting a disguised takeover rather than a true merger of equals.
According to Ghosn, Honda’s goal was to absorb Nissan and turn it into a subsidiary—a fact later confirmed by Honda itself. The former executive portrayed the failed alliance as another symptom of Nissan’s current lack of strategic clarity and autonomy.
Perhaps the most damning comment came when Ghosn described the automaker as “boring” and “mediocre,” a far cry from the bold and innovative company he once led.
“Nissan has become a shell of its former self. It used to be dynamic—now it risks being left out of the game entirely,” he said.
In today’s ultra-competitive automotive landscape, Ghosn warned, companies must be fast and visionary. In his view, Nissan is neither.
Carlos Ghosn: the man behind the escape
Carlos Ghosn is as infamous for his escape as he is for his leadership. Wanted internationally for charges including corruption, money laundering, and misuse of company funds, he became a global sensation in 2019 when he fled Japan under extraordinary circumstances.
Though widely believed to have escaped in a box used for transporting musical instruments aboard a private jet, Ghosn has since denied that particular version of events. Regardless, his Hollywood-style exit only added to the legend—and controversy—surrounding his name.
