Everyone seems to be at war with Audi as companies fight to top the sales charts and close marketing gaps by making cars that cater to almost every need. As a result, word is that Infiniti aims to quadruple their market share in China’s luxury auto market to combat Audi within the next five years.

CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a press conference that he plans on expanding Infiniti’s share of the global luxury market at least 8% by 2016, starting with China’s luxury market.

“We entered the China market even later than Taiwan and South Korea, and that’s very ridiculous to anybody who has a bit of knowledge about the industry,” said Allen Lu, formerly of Ferrari S.p.A. and Infiniti China’s future managing director. “But, it’s like running a marathon — you can’t tell who will win after just 10 kilometers.”

Ghosn also set a very big goal for Infiniti, saying that he wants the luxury brand to produce and sell up to 500,000 units a year globally by March of 2017. With today’s statistics, that would put Infiniti’s market share at about 10% by then.

“The real challenge for Infiniti is to get on the consideration list for luxury-auto shoppers in China,” said Bill Russo, a senior adviser at consulting company Booz & Co. in Beijing, “it should be possible for Infiniti to carve out a piece of this expanding pie.”

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News

Infiniti CEO Ghosn has recently shared some mixed messages recently in regards to the company having plans of its own version of Nissan’s awesome GT-R.

Ghosn comments “Are we going to do that, I would say ‘no’, I don’t think so…If your question is ‘could we do that’, I would say ‘yes’. The idea of using existing technologies on the body of an Infiniti, yet. All the technologies developed for Nissan are available to Infiniti.’. Is that plain enough for you?

Ghosn continued on a bit on the topic, saying “I think we need to go step by step. We have positioned the FX, the M, the G. Then we have the QX in the U.S., which is a big success over there … We have the EX…the electric car… a sub-G smaller car coming…” So overall, it seems the roster is a bit full at the moment to take on a project like a GT-R. Ghosn also adds that it’s not an impossiblity, now is simply not the time.

An Infiniti version of the GT-R is something fans can, at least, dream about for the next decade or so.

Infiniti Essence Concept:

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: CAR

Being a CEO of an automaker is quite a lucrative position. FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally definitely understands that first-hand as his total compensation for 2010 came in at an eye-wattering $26.5 million.

Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn, 57, received 982 million yen or $11.46 million in total compensation last fiscal year, including salary and stock options.

Ghosn got a 10 percent increase in the year ending March, is the highest-paid leader among Japanese companies that have disclosed executive compensation, according to Bloomberg. Ghosn was followed by Sony Corp. Chairman Howard Stringer, who made about 863 million yen in salary, bonus and stock options.

Keep in mind that Ghosn’s pay at Nissan doesn’t include the compensation he gets as Renault’s CEO. Ghosn separately collected $1.7 million at Renault in 2010.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Nissan yesterday announced a new business plan called ‘Nissan Power 88′ that will be effective immediately for fiscal years 2011 to 2016. The focuses on two goals for the Japanese automaker including “achieve a global market share of 8% and increase its corporate operating profit to a sustainable 8%” during the specified period.

“Nissan Power 88 is a demanding business plan, but our company has a proven track record of achieving challenging objectives,” said CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Some interesting points from Nissan’s press release about ‘Power 88′:

• Nissan’s extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company’s global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.
• Nissan will introduce more than 90 new, advanced technologies, averaging 15 per year.
• The Infiniti premium brand will grow from its 2010 sales level of 150,000 vehicles to 10% of global market share among luxury brand segments, a level today that would represent 500,000 vehicles.* Infiniti will be present in more than 70 markets with a product range of at least 10 vehicles.

Keep in mind that these goals are going to be targeted on a global level.

- By: Omar Rana

Nissan today announced a new 6-year business plan that will accelerate the Japanese automaker’s growth across new vehicle segment and markets. The new business plan is called ‘Nissan Power 88′ and will be effective immediately for fiscal years 2011 to 2016.

Why is it called Nissan Power 88? The number emphasizes key corporate goals as Nissan aims to “achieve a global market share of 8% and increase its corporate operating profit to a sustainable 8%” by the end of fiscal year 2016.

“Nissan Power 88 is the roadmap for our company’s profitable growth,” said Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn. “We will accelerate our growth, bringing more innovation and excitement to our products and services as well as cleaner, more affordable cars for everyone around the world, in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.”

Hit the jump for the video of Nissan’s new business plan and more info in the press release.

Press Release:

“NISSAN POWER 88″ MIDTERM BUSINESS PLAN ANNOUNCED

Plan emphasizes brand and sales power enhancement, growth,sustainable mobility and mobility for all

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced a wide-ranging, six-year business plan that will accelerate the company’s growth across new markets and segments. The plan for fiscal years 2011 to 2016, called “Nissan Power 88,” is effective immediately.

The name of the plan emphasizes key corporate goals: Nissan will renew its focus on the overall customer experience through actions that elevate its brands’ power and sales power. By the end of fiscal 2016, the company will aim to achieve a global market share of 8% and increase its corporate operating profit to a sustainable 8%.

Highlights of Nissan Power 88 reflect Nissan’s clear, global vision and strategic direction through fiscal 2016:

• Nissan’s extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company’s global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.
• The emphasis on sustainable mobility will continue, encompassing zero-emission vehicles and low-emission technologies that support PURE DRIVE. Cumulative electric vehicle sales for the Renault-Nissan Alliance will reach 1.5 million units.
• “Mobility for all” will expand with dedicated new cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) developed for entry-level segments and emerging markets.
• Nissan will introduce more than 90 new, advanced technologies, averaging 15 per year.

Nissan will increase investments in its brands and retail networks to enhance its customers’ entire ownership experience. Nissan currently has 6,000 major points of sales globally; the retail network will expand to 7,500 in the midterm plan period.

Business expansion will focus on growth markets and further developing the company’s Infiniti and light commercial businesses.

• In 2012, Nissan will have a production capacity of 1.2 million units in China. China has become – and will continue to be – Nissan’s largest single global market. Nissan aims for a 10% share of the Chinese market. Nissan will also increase its presence in Brazil, Russia and India, as well as in the next wave of emerging markets.
• In Brazil, Nissan will build a new plant, with a capacity of 200,000 units as a first step.
• Nissan NV200′s selection as New York City’s “Taxi of Tomorrow” illustrates the company’s momentum in the LCV field. By 2016, Nissan will be the world’s leading light commercial vehicle manufacturer.
• The Infiniti premium brand will grow from its 2010 sales level of 150,000 vehicles to 10% of global market share among luxury brand segments, a level today that would represent 500,000 vehicles.* Infiniti will be present in more than 70 markets with a product range of at least 10 vehicles.

“Nissan Power 88 is a demanding business plan, but our company has a proven track record of achieving challenging objectives,” said Mr. Ghosn.

- By: Omar Rana

Nissan Motor Co may be the second-largest automaker in Japan, but it hands out the paychecks at the number one spot, paying over double what Honda Motor Corp and Toyota Motor Corp. shared with employees.

The 14 Nissan executives received a pay raise, 9 of which saw a 32% increase, all receiving an average of 126 million yen, which equates to 1.6 million USD. Nissan reported a 16 percent global sales increase from January to March, bringing in a net income of 31 billion yen. Seven of these executives will also receive a total of 194 million yen in share appreciation rights.

TIW, Inc. analyst Satoru Takada comments “Nissan’s compensation seems to be based on a short-term basis and reflects how Nissan’s earnings are doing in recent periods,”. Nissan reports that they have performance evaluations and standards, as per Mitsuru Yonekawa, a Nissan spokesman, who gave no additional details.

To compare, Japan’s number one automaker, Toyota, paid its top executives an average of 44 million, including bonus. Honda gave out checks averaging 45 million yen for its top 25 executives.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Bloomberg

Carlos Ghosn - Renault/Nissan CEO

In an interview with French newspaper, Le Monde, Renault – Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said that he is still interested in having a closer relationship with General Motors.

“Today, I remain open to closer ties with GM,” Ghosn was quoted saying. “If they are interested, they will come to us.”

He said that he originally proposed the idea of working with GM during the economic crisis last year when he met with Steve Rattner, the former auto czar for President Barack Obama’s autos bailout task force.

Ghosn said earlier this month that he declined an offer by the Obama administration to become CEO of GM because he already had so much on his plate with Renault – Nissan.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Reuters

Carlos Ghosn - Nissan/Renault CEO

Earlier this month its was reported that the Obama administration wanted Renault/Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn to lead General Motors once it came out of a government scripted bankruptcy. The news was made popular by Steven Rattner’s, the former auto czar for President Obama, tell-all book about his six months with the new administration.

Ghosn today confirmed that he was indeed asked by Rattner to become CEO of GM. In an interview with CNN today, Ghosn said that he turned down the offer and said that he had asked Rattner to support a move to include GM in the Renault-Nissan alliance.

“He proposed for me to take the job as CEO of General Motors and I declined,” Ghosn said. “I declined for a very simple reason … We still are in one of the worst downturns that the auto industry has faced in its history and I felt that I can’t quit. I am responsible for Nissan and Renault.”

Ghosn went onto say that in the middle of a “storm — you are in charge. You have to deliver, you have to get the company out of the storm. So it was not the time to leave.”

Ghosn also went on to say that he still believed that a potential tie-up between GM and Renault/Nissan would make sense to “share in the synergies.”

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Detroit News

Carlos Ghosn - Nissan/Renault CEO

Steven Rattner was president Obama”s auto adviser who was at the helm of the government”s bailout of Chrysler and GM in 2009. He is now set to publish a tell-all book about his six months at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The book, entitled “Overhaul: An Insider’s Account of the Obama Administration’s Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry.”, is due out in October.

In the book, Rattner explains that Fiat was heavily urged by President Obama to take the reigns at Chrysler, and that Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn was the his top choice to run GM, but after being personally offered the position by Rattner, Ghosn said that he felt considerable loyalty to those two companies, especially during the tough economic times.

Rattner had joined the White House auto team after GM and Chrysler were initially bailed out by the Bush administration, and remained through July 2009, after the two emerged from bankruptcy.

In the book, Rattner offers tremendous insight and some gritty revelations as to what government officials really thought about not only the concept of the bailouts, but also the execution.

Rattner also offers his own insights and praises the administration for its assistance of the industry. “I would discover that the struggles of GM and Chrysler were as much a failure of management as a consequence of globalization, oil prices, and organized labor,” he writes in the book. “The auto rescue remains one of the few actions taken by the administration that, at least in my opinion, can be pronounced an unambiguous success. Detroit should count itself lucky.”

Photo Copyright © 2009 Jack Rosenfeld ““ egmCarTech.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: AutoWeek

Ford Motor Company CEO, Alan Mulally

FoMoCo chief Alan Mulally makes more than Toyota’s Akio Toyoda, Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn, and Honda’s Takanobu Ito – combined. The three Japanese heads earned 100 million yen ($1.1 million), 891 million yen, and 115 million yen, respectively. Mulally earned $17.9 million in 2009. Bear in mind that FoMoCo’s salaries are not subject to the same oversight that GM and Chrysler’s are because ford received no bailout.

New Japanese rules require public companies to disclose the pay of those individuals who earn more than 100 million yen per year. Toyota named four such individuals; Toyoda was not on that list.

One expert worries that Japan is not being competitive enough in compensating its execs.

“Because of globalization, competition is intensifying, and there is a greater importance placed on strong and decisive management,” Katsuyuki Kubo, an associate professor of economics at Waseda University in Tokyo who specializes in compensation and corporate governance. “Without the pay incentive, Japan could lose out on competitiveness.”

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: DriveOn

Renault/Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche

Speaking at a luncheon at the Detroit Economic Club at the Cobo Center yesterday, Renault and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said that size matters when it comes to an automaker’s survival in the industry. He said that to cope with rising cost, a successful automaker must be able to compete in every market, segment and technology.

“No 3 million-unit carmaker can make it,” Ghosn said, talking about his companies (Renault-Nissan) recently announced alliance with Daimler AG. “You also must be in every market — and it’s not just Japan, Europe and the United States anymore but also Brazil, Russia, China and India. And you better be in Indonesia, too.”

Ghosn said that every large automaker must be able to simultaneously develop gasoline, diesel, hybrid and electric-vehicle technology since it is difficult to predict which one of those will take center-stage in the future.

Ghosn also announced that Nissan has officially sold out its 13,000 allocation for the LEAF electric-vehicle here in the United States.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn

Nissan, like Toyota and Honda, is forecasting huge profits this year, courtesy of recovering demand in North America, and a sales surge in China. Nissan, Japan”s third-largest automaker, may realize a boost in net income of over 100 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, as compared to one year previous. Sales could rise to as high as 8.2 trillion yen, from 7.5 trillion. Though these numbers look promising, there are some analysts who feel that this is too conservative of a number. Nissan”s U.S. sales increased 35% in April amidst the sixth straight month of demand growth for autos in America.

The company was able to narrow its Q4 loss to 11.6 billion yen, attributed largely to a 31% surge in U.S. sales, which resulted in Nissan holding a record 9% U.S. market share. Chinese sales were also strong for Nissan, with a 68% increase, for total sales of 243,000. The company aims to produce 900,000 units per year by 2012.

The Leaf is set to go on sale in China in 2011, and so far there are more than 13,000 orders for the car in Japan and Europe. The U.S. Nissan expects to sell 6,000 units in Japan alone this year, and hopes to have capacity to make 500,000 Leaf vehicles per year by 2012 with initial manufacturing efforts in Japan, Britain, Portugal, and Tennessee.

“Although we continue to operate in an environment that is volatile and uncertain, fiscal year 2010 will be an important year in which we launch an affordable, mass-market, all-electric, zero-emission vehicle, extend our presence in emerging markets and develop additional synergies in the Renault-Nissan alliance,” CEO Carlos Ghosn told reporters earlier today in Yokohama.

Nissan may have trouble cutting overall costs, however, as capital spending, marketing costs, and R&D costs are expected to rise. Nissan”s alliance with Renault SA has agreed on a partnership to share development costs, engines and small-car technologies with Daimler AG.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Daimler and Chrysler’s divorce back in day is one that made headlines in the automotive industry. Chrysler, which was originally sold by Daimler to investment company Cerberus Capital Management, is now under the management control of Fiat SpA after undergoing a government-scripted Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Comparing its new alliance with Renault-Nissan, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said that his company’s relationship with Carlos Ghosn’s companies is much better than the one it had with Chrysler.

“After nine years of working together with Detroit we had less on our hands than we do today. That is our main learning” from the Chrysler experience, said Zetsche.

Ouch.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: DriveOn

Renault and Daimler have been in talks of entering into an equity tie-up a spart of a long-term partnership, and now Nissan may join the table.

“We are talking with many companies, many partners but I don’t want to make any comment on something that is absolutely not decided or something which has absolutely not been the object of any decisions,” said Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, who also heads Nissan, as the two have a strong alliance.

Renault seeks to augment its lack of top-of-the-line cars while Daimler look to add smaller cars. Sources say that Ghosn is trying to persuade Dieter Zietsche, CEO of Daimler, to join the Nissan-Renault alliance, though Zietsche may be a little reluctant given the turbulence he encountered as a result of a similar venture with Chrysler.

Photo Copyright © 2009 Jack Rosenfeld ““ egmCarTech.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Carlos Ghosn, Renault/Nissan CEO said that he is still looking for another strategic partner to cut costs on global technology and vehicle costs. Speaking at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Ghosn said that he still wants to expand the Renault/Nissan alliance and pursue partnerships.

General Motors turned down a deal more than three years ago and Chrysler canceled its vehicle-sharing deals after it partnered up with Fiat SpA.

“Obviously, we are talking to many people. The name of the game is scale, co-investment and shared technologies. There are a lot of talks. You would be surprised how many people we are talking to about specific cooperations,” Ghosn said. He declined to name potential technology partners.

Rumors say that Ghosn is currently talking to Daimler AG on the next Smart Car. It was reported last week that both companies struck a deal to produce the next Smart for 2014.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Photo Copyright © 2009 Jack Rosenfeld ““ egmCarTech.

Renault/Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn, said that General Motors Company would have been better off if it had formed an alliance with his companies in 2006. GM and Renault/Nissan called the talks off in October 2006.

“Without any doubt,” he said during a forum sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. “We knew fundamentally that this would work, but only if it was a collaborative effort.”

Ghosn said that there was huge “possibility to create something that would be extremely competitive.” He said the alliance would have allowed both companies to share technology, practices and a common approach.

When asked if he was happy that the alliance with GM fell through, Ghosn said: “When you see the disaster and the waste of energy and skills and talent, nobody can be happy.”

He went on to say that the auto industry had become much more interconnected.

“When General Motors was in danger, everybody was scared. We were scared. Because some of our suppliers are big suppliers of General Motors,” Ghosn said. “If they go down, we would not have been able to assemble any single car in the United States.”

- By: Omar Rana

Photo Copyright © 2009 Jack Rosenfeld ““ egmCarTech.

Source: Detroit News

Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn told Automotive News today that he has ruled out a stand-alone hybrid like the Toyota Prius.

“We don”t have this in our plans,” Ghosn said. “We are not intending to play a leadership role in hybrids. “One company already assumed leadership in the technology. We want leadership on EVs.”

Ghosn said that Nissan will offer hybrid variants of existing models in its lineup.

Nissan’s first in-house technology will be seen in the 2011 Infiniti M35, which will go on sale in the U.S. in spring 2011. Nissan’s hybrid system for the Infiniti M consists of a single electric-motor/twin-clutch arrangement, mated to a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6.

2011 Infiniti M:

- By: Stephen Calogera

Coming as a shocker to most of us, Penske Automotive Group announced yesterday that it has “terminated its discussions with GM to buy Saturn, citing concerns directly related to the future supply of vehicles beyond the supply period it had negotiated with GM.”

Originally, Pesnke’s plans were to sell GM made models for the next three years. After the three year period, Penske was to fill Saturn dealerships with other products from various automakers. Sources continually said that Penske was in talks with French automaker Renault and its South Korean unit, Samsung to supply Saturn dealers.

Renault COO Patrick Pelata confirmed today that talks with Penske to sell vehicles through Saturn broke down last minute.

“We negotiated with them but we were unable to reach agreement at the end,” Renault COO Patrick Pelata told Bloomberg News in an interview.

Pelata said that Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn was not in favor of supplying Penske with cars to sell through Saturn showrooms.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Bloomberg (via AutoObserver)