Carlos Ghosn Accuses Honda of Disguised Takeover in New Alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi
In a recent interview with Automotive News, one of the car industry’s most controversial figures, Carlos Ghosn, didn’t hold back. Known for his blunt assessments, Ghosn described Nissan as “boring, mediocre” and in a “bad position,” while calling the Renault-Nissan alliance “small and fragile.” Now, the 70-year-old fugitive has shared his views on the newly formed Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi partnership.
Ghosn accused Honda of orchestrating a “disguised takeover” of Nissan and Mitsubishi. He argued that Honda, being the largest of the three Japanese automakers, is in the “driver’s seat” to dominate the alliance. While complete details of the new agreement haven’t been fleshed out, the former head of Nissan insisted that Honda will call the shots.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ghosn mentioned that a tie-up with Honda was never considered during his time at Nissan. He served as CEO from June 2001 until April 2017, when he stepped down but remained chairman. Ghosn initially joined Nissan in June 1999 as COO, coinciding with the establishment of the Renault-Nissan alliance and Renault’s 43.4 percent stake in Nissan. By late 2023, Renault decided to sell back five percent to Nissan.
Before Nissan, Ghosn played a pivotal role in restructuring Renault as Executive Vice President, earning the nickname “Le Cost Killer” for his aggressive cost-cutting measures.
As a reminder, Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 on charges of misusing company funds and underreporting his salary for five years. He famously fled house arrest in Japan in December 2019, escaping to Lebanon, a country that does not extradite its citizens. Describing his escape, Ghosn told the BBC in 2021, “The 30 minutes waiting in the box on the plane, waiting for it to take off, was probably the longest wait I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
In 2024, Ghosn now leads a different life in Lebanon, teaching at a local college and advising startups. Regarding ongoing lawsuits, he stated, “I have my lawyers. They are playing with this.”
Concerning the newly formed Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance announced on August 1, details remain unclear. However, Honda and Nissan have agreed to collaborate on batteries, electric motors, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Additionally, they will complement each other’s lineups with combustion cars and electric models. Nissan continues to hold a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi.
