Carlos Ghosn,

Renault and Nissan are installing enough capacity to build 150,000 cars in Japan, 200,000 in Europe and 200,000 in the U.S. They are plunging headlong into the market, claiming to be the first companies to build and sell fully powered electric cars.

Unlike hybrids, such as Toyota's (TM) Prius, electric cars do not have an engine to keep them running when their power runs out.

Continue reading Renault, Nissan CEO Sees Big Demand for Electric Cars by 2011

Renault, Nissan CEO Sees Big Demand for Electric Cars by 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nissan Motors (NASDAQ: NSANY) thinks that the US market will account for less than 15 million vehicles sales this year. Last year that figure was 16.1 million. The Japanese company says it is preparing for the worst. That is too bad, because Nissan tends to sell smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and not large pick-ups and SUVs. If it thinks the market for its products will get much softer, its says something about the entire industry.

According to Reuters, Nissan's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, said: "If we take the trend of the market in May and June it looks like we are going to be much below 15 million. Now I'm not sure if this is going to continue for the rest of year. We are preparing ourselves for the worst."

If a typical car sold in the US costs the consumer $25,000, Nissan's prediction indicates that total sales in the world's largest vehicle market will fall off by about $30 billion. That is nearly one quarter of Ford's (NYSE: F) annual sales.

Continue reading Nissan joins car companies seeing troubled US market

Nissan joins car companies seeing troubled US market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nissan's (NSANY) Carlos Ghosn recruits a CFO with more of a 'French' touch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Both General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) have hinted recently at more hybrid vehicles entering the global auto pipeline from both manufacturers. This is no surprise; customers are dealing with high gas prices every day now (with little to no relief in sight) and auto manufacturers are responding with hybrid auto technology to fill the customer need for better MPG (miles per gallon). Although Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) has been at the forefront of marketing so far (with its Prius hybrid, for example) and GM and Ford are pushing hybrid technology as well, what about other manufacturers?

Nissan Motor Co. (NASDAQ: NSANY) CEO Carlos Ghosn, who has been given credit for completely revitalizing and saving Nissan from complete failure back in 2001 or so, indicated yesterday that the company he leads is working hard to develop the next generation of smaller, lighter auto batteries. This move will make Nissan (hopefully) more competitive in the technology field that is sure to be used more and more in the future for not only auto batteries, but 100% electric-powered vehicles as well.

Nissan's specific move here is to have the smaller, more efficient and lighter lithium-ion battery technology currently used in cell phones and laptop computers used in passenger cars and trucks. In terms of Nissan vehicles that use hybrid technology, the current lineup includes the 2008 Nissan Altima. That car -- one of the most popular in all of Nissan's product portfolio -- has a hybrid option that uses older Nickel Metal Hydride technology that Nissan licenses from competitor Toyota. If Ghosn does not only get the newest generation of automotive batteries to market faster than the competition -- and possibly make Nissan vehicles with that technology on board -- Ford and GM may become customers as both domestic automakers strive to get a more solid footing in the hybrid vehicle market.

Nissan to introduce newest hybrid car technology originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On Friday, Nissan Motor's (NASDAQ:NSANY) Chief Executive Officer, Carlos Ghosn, announced he would give up his oversight of the company's operations in North America to focus more on Renault and Nissan. The Japanese car maker is in a tough stretch of late, and warned that it would a lower profit for the year. The company's shares have been trading in a narrow range for years, and the company is looking for a way to reinvigorate its brand. Enter the losing keys promotion.

To promote its new push button ignition system for the 2007 Nissan Altima sedan, the company will be scattering about 60,000 sets of keys in bars, theaters, sports arenas, and parks in several key markets (sorry, couldn't help it). The key tags will have promotional tags like, "If found, please do not return because the Altima has Intelligent Key with push-button ignition, and I no longer need these." If you find a key and log on to the company's website, you can receive a $15 gas card or magazine subscription.

With a total cost for the campaign of less than $100 thousand, I think this is a brilliant marketing campaign. As Spike TV found out rather unfortunately, scattering stuff all over the place is a great way to generate publicity. The fact the key promotion directly ties into the Nissan's push-button ignition system will generate free buzz for this feature. I'm betting that this ad campaign will generate a lot more value, dollar for dollar, than buying air-time for yet another car commercial.

Nissan's advertising unlocked originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Carlos Ghosn of "I will run GM for you" fame, says that a tie-up with Ford is not in the cards, at least not for now. That's too bad. Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) could use a friend. It has not seen the kind of turnaround that appears to be taking root at General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM).

With recent negative credit watches from agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's, Ford's debt could move further into junk bond territory. That means the credit analysts think a bankruptcy is more likely, and that Ford may run low on cash next year. With a Q3 loss of $5.8 billion and more losses ahead, Ford could use a friend, especially if Ghosn could get Nissan and Renault to chip in a few dollars for a piece of Ford. The Ford family may be concerned enough about the future value of their shares that they could go along with letting some or all of the control in the No. 2 US automaker go to someone else.

Ford's European operations could dovetail nicely with Renault. And, without a dealer network in the US, Renault could use the Ford dealer footprint to relaunch its cars in the U.S..

Ford could also use Nissan's factory capacity in the U.S. to close some of its own facilities, and that might give it leverage with the UAW.

But, it isn't going to happen. And Ford needs it to happen now.

Douglas McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Ford drives alone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ghosn may look to Ford if GM talks fall through originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.