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'''Makoto Uchida''' ({{lang|ja|内田 誠}}, ''Uchida Makoto''; born July 20, 1966) is a Japanese business executive who served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[Nissan Motor Company]] from December 2019 until April 1, 2025. Appointed in the turbulent aftermath of the arrest and ouster of former chairman [[Carlos Ghosn]], Uchida was tasked with stabilizing one of Japan's largest automakers during a period of deep corporate crisis, declining profitability, and strained alliance relations with [[Renault]]. A relatively little-known senior vice president overseeing Nissan's China operations at the time of his appointment, Uchida rose to the top of the company at a moment when few within its executive ranks were willing or able to take on the role.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Motoko |date=2019-10-08 |title=Nissan Names New C.E.O. to Succeed Carlos Ghosn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/business/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His tenure was marked by ambitious restructuring plans, the exploration and ultimate failure of a merger with [[Honda Motor Company]], and his eventual departure as Nissan continued to face severe financial difficulties. He was succeeded as CEO by Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's chief planning officer, on April 1, 2025.<ref name="apnews">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan's chief executive steps down, and an insider with Mexico experience gets tapped for the job |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-nissan-uchida-autos-6341d68967fbcc677904620c2640ce29 |work=AP News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
'''Makoto Uchida''' ({{lang|ja|内田 誠}}, ''Uchida Makoto''; born July 20, 1966) is a Japanese business executive who served as the president and chief executive officer of [[Nissan Motor Company]] from December 2019 until March 2025. Appointed in the turbulent aftermath of the arrest and ouster of former chairman [[Carlos Ghosn]], Uchida inherited one of the most challenging leadership positions in the global automotive industry: stabilizing a company rocked by scandal, declining profits, and fractured alliances. His tenure was defined by efforts to restructure Nissan's operations, navigate the transition toward electrification, and manage the automaker's complex partnership with [[Renault]]. A relatively unknown figure outside of Nissan at the time of his appointment, Uchida had spent much of his career in the company's operations in China and other international markets before being elevated to the top role.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |date=2019-10-08 |title=Nissan Names Senior Vice President Makoto Uchida as Next C.E.O. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/business/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He stepped down from the position on April 1, 2025, and was succeeded by Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's chief planning officer.<ref name="apnews">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan's chief executive steps down, and an insider with Mexico experience gets tapped for the job |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-nissan-uchida-autos-6341d68967fbcc677904620c2640ce29 |work=AP News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Makoto Uchida was born on July 20, 1966, in Japan. Details regarding his family background and upbringing have not been widely reported in public sources. Uchida grew up during a period of rapid economic growth in Japan and came of age in an era when the Japanese automotive industry was establishing itself as a dominant global force.
Makoto Uchida was born on July 20, 1966, in Japan. Public information about his early childhood and family background is limited. He pursued his higher education at [[Doshisha University]], a private university in Kyoto, Japan, one of the country's well-established academic institutions.<ref name="nissanbio">{{cite web |title=Makoto Uchida |url=https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/makoto_uchida_en |publisher=Nissan Motor Corporation |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
After completing his university studies, Uchida embarked on a career that would take him through various international postings in the automotive sector. Before joining Nissan, he worked in trading and business development roles that gave him experience in global commerce.<ref name="nissanbio" /> His career trajectory was notable for its international scope, including significant time spent in markets outside of Japan, which would later prove instrumental in his rise within Nissan's corporate hierarchy.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Uchida attended [[Doshisha University]], a private university located in Kyoto, Japan, where he completed his undergraduate studies.<ref name="nissanbio">{{cite web |title=Makoto Uchida |url=https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/makoto_uchida_en |publisher=Nissan Global Newsroom |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Doshisha University, founded in 1875, is one of Japan's leading private institutions of higher education. Further details about his specific area of study or any additional academic qualifications have not been widely documented.
Uchida attended [[Doshisha University]] in Kyoto, Japan, where he completed his undergraduate studies.<ref name="nissanbio" /> Doshisha, founded in 1875, is a prominent private research university known for its programs in commerce, law, and liberal arts. Details regarding Uchida's specific field of study have not been widely documented in public sources, though his subsequent career in international trade and the automotive industry suggests a background in business or commercial disciplines.


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Early Career and Rise at Nissan ===
=== Early Career and Rise at Nissan ===


Prior to his appointment as CEO, Uchida built a long career within the Nissan organization. He held various positions within the company's operations, developing expertise in international markets. By the late 2010s, Uchida had risen to the position of senior vice president and was serving as the head of Nissan's business operations in China, one of the company's most important markets globally.<ref name="nytimes" /> His role in managing Nissan's Chinese joint venture gave him significant experience in overseeing large-scale operations in a complex and competitive market environment.
Uchida joined Nissan Motor Company and over the course of his career held a series of positions with increasing responsibility across the company's global operations. He gained significant experience in Nissan's international businesses, including a prominent role overseeing operations in China, one of Nissan's most important markets.<ref name="nytimes" /> By the time of his appointment as CEO, Uchida held the rank of senior vice president and was serving as the head of Nissan's China operations, managing the joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="globeandmail">{{cite news |title=Nissan names senior VP Makoto Uchida as next CEO, Ashwani Gupta as COO |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/asia-pacific-business/article-nissan-names-senior-vp-makoto-uchida-as-next-ceo-ashwani-gupta-as-coo/ |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Despite his seniority, Uchida was not widely known outside of Nissan's internal leadership circles prior to his appointment as CEO. His relatively low public profile would become a defining characteristic of his selection — he was viewed as an insider capable of navigating the company's internal politics while also possessing substantive operational experience.<ref name="nytimes" />
His work in China was considered notable, as the country represented one of the largest automotive markets in the world and was a critical source of revenue for Nissan. Managing the joint venture with Dongfeng required navigating complex regulatory requirements, competitive pressures from domestic Chinese brands, and the growing demand for electric vehicles in the Chinese market.<ref name="nytimes" />


=== Appointment as CEO ===
=== Appointment as CEO ===


Uchida's appointment as CEO was announced on October 8, 2019, by Nissan's board of directors.<ref name="nissan_tse">{{cite web |title=Notice Regarding a Change in Representative |url=https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/DOCUMENT/PDF/FINANCIAL/TSE/2019/20191009TDnet_E.pdf |publisher=Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. |date=2019-10-09 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The appointment came approximately ten months after the dramatic November 2018 arrest of Carlos Ghosn, the powerful chairman who had led the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance for nearly two decades. Ghosn's arrest on charges of financial misconduct had plunged Nissan into a protracted governance crisis, damaged its alliance relationships, and exposed deep divisions within the company's leadership.
On October 8, 2019, Nissan's board of directors announced that Uchida had been selected to serve as the company's next president and chief executive officer.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="nissantse">{{cite web |title=Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. — Notification of Representative Change |url=https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/DOCUMENT/PDF/FINANCIAL/TSE/2019/20191009TDnet_E.pdf |publisher=Nissan Motor Corporation |date=2019-10-09 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The appointment came at an exceptionally difficult juncture for the company. Nissan had been in turmoil since the dramatic arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn in November 2018 on charges of financial misconduct, an event that sent shockwaves through the global automotive industry and exposed deep tensions within the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.
 
The period between Ghosn's arrest and Uchida's appointment had seen considerable instability in Nissan's leadership. Hiroto Saikawa, who had initially succeeded Ghosn as CEO, was himself forced to resign in September 2019 amid revelations that he had received excess compensation.<ref name="nytimes" /> The company's board embarked on a search for new leadership that could restore credibility, steady the organization, and address a deteriorating financial performance.
 
Uchida was chosen alongside Ashwani Gupta, who was named chief operating officer, as part of a new leadership structure designed to bring stability and fresh direction to the company.<ref name="globeandmail" /> At the time of his appointment, Uchida was relatively unknown outside of Nissan's internal circles, which some observers saw as both a strength and a limitation — he was untainted by the Ghosn-era controversies but also lacked the high public profile that might have been expected of a leader tasked with turning around one of Japan's largest automakers.<ref name="nytimes" />


The process of selecting a new CEO had been tumultuous. Hiroto Saikawa, who had initially taken over as CEO following Ghosn's arrest, was himself forced to resign in September 2019 after admitting to receiving excess compensation.<ref name="nytimes" /> The search for a successor involved a special committee of the board, which ultimately settled on Uchida as a consensus candidate.
Uchida officially assumed the role of CEO in December 2019.<ref name="apnews" />


As reported by ''The New York Times'', Uchida's selection was accompanied by the appointment of Ashwani Gupta as chief operating officer (COO).<ref name="nytimes" /> This leadership structure was designed to distribute executive authority more broadly, a deliberate departure from the highly centralized power that Ghosn had wielded. The ''Globe and Mail'' also reported on the dual appointment, noting that the new leadership team was expected to repair the strained relationship with alliance partner Renault while simultaneously addressing Nissan's deteriorating financial performance.<ref name="globeandmail">{{cite news |date=2019-10-08 |title=Nissan names senior VP Makoto Uchida as next CEO, Ashwani Gupta as COO |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/asia-pacific-business/article-nissan-names-senior-vp-makoto-uchida-as-next-ceo-ashwani-gupta-as-coo/ |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Tenure as CEO (2019–2025) ===


Uchida officially assumed the CEO role in December 2019, just months before the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]] would further disrupt the automotive industry worldwide.<ref name="nissanbio" />
==== Restructuring and the Nissan NEXT Transformation Plan ====


=== Restructuring Efforts and the Nissan NEXT Plan ===
Upon taking office, Uchida faced the immediate challenge of reversing Nissan's declining financial performance. Under the Ghosn era, Nissan had pursued aggressive expansion and volume-driven sales strategies that, while boosting short-term numbers, had eroded profitability and brand value. Uchida articulated a new strategic direction that prioritized sustainable growth over raw sales volume.


Upon taking office, Uchida inherited a company in significant distress. Nissan was suffering from declining sales, falling profits, excess production capacity, and an aging vehicle lineup — problems that many analysts attributed to the aggressive expansion strategy pursued under Ghosn's leadership. The company's global sales had been declining, and its profit margins were under severe pressure.
In May 2020, Nissan announced its "Nissan NEXT" transformation plan, a comprehensive restructuring initiative that aimed to reduce costs, rationalize the company's global production capacity, and focus resources on core markets and technologies. The plan called for significant reductions in production capacity and the discontinuation of certain vehicle models in underperforming markets.<ref name="justauto">{{cite web |title=Interview: Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida |url=https://justauto.nridigital.com/just-auto_magazine_sep20/interview_nissan_ceo_makoto_uchida |publisher=just-auto |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In a 2020 interview, Uchida discussed his vision for the company's turnaround and the challenges of leading Nissan through a period of transformation.<ref name="justauto">{{cite web |title=Interview: Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida |url=https://justauto.nridigital.com/just-auto_magazine_sep20/interview_nissan_ceo_makoto_uchida |publisher=Just Auto |date=2020-09 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Under Uchida's leadership, Nissan launched the "Nissan NEXT" transformation plan, which aimed to rationalize the company's global operations, reduce costs, close underperforming plants, and refocus its product lineup on core markets and models where Nissan could compete effectively.
In an interview discussing the strategy, Uchida emphasized the need for Nissan to focus on quality of sales rather than quantity, and to invest in electrification and advanced technologies that would position the company for long-term competitiveness.<ref name="justauto" /> The plan represented a departure from the growth-at-all-costs approach that had characterized the Ghosn years and reflected a more cautious, financially disciplined philosophy.


The restructuring plan included significant cost-cutting measures and a reduction in global production capacity. Uchida sought to shift Nissan's strategy away from the volume-focused approach of the Ghosn era toward one that prioritized profitability and sustainability. The plan also emphasized the development of electric vehicles and advanced technology as key pillars of Nissan's future competitiveness.
==== Managing the Alliance with Renault ====


However, the implementation of these plans was complicated by external headwinds, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions affecting the global semiconductor supply, and intensifying competition in the electric vehicle market from both established automakers and new entrants such as [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]] and Chinese manufacturers.
A central element of Uchida's tenure was the management of Nissan's complex relationship with French automaker Renault. The Nissan-Renault alliance, originally forged in 1999 under Ghosn's leadership, had been a source of tension for years, with Nissan executives chafing at Renault's 43% ownership stake in Nissan while Nissan held only a 15% non-voting stake in Renault. The power imbalance had been a major source of the corporate discord that preceded Ghosn's arrest.


=== Alliance Management and Honda Merger Discussions ===
Under Uchida's leadership, Nissan negotiated a restructuring of the alliance's cross-shareholding arrangement. In a landmark agreement reached in 2023, Renault agreed to reduce its stake in Nissan to 15%, bringing the relationship closer to parity. This rebalancing was seen as a significant achievement for Nissan's corporate independence, though it also raised questions about the future depth and effectiveness of the partnership.


A critical dimension of Uchida's tenure was managing Nissan's relationships within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the global automotive partnership that had been forged by Ghosn. The arrest and flight of Ghosn — who eventually fled Japan to Lebanon in late 2019 — had severely damaged trust between the alliance partners, and Uchida was charged with rebuilding these relationships on a more equitable footing.
==== Financial Challenges and Declining Performance ====


During the later years of Uchida's tenure, as Nissan's financial performance continued to struggle, the company entered into discussions with Honda Motor Company about a potential merger or deep strategic partnership. The talks, which were publicly disclosed, represented one of the most dramatic potential consolidations in the history of the Japanese automotive industry. A combination of Nissan and Honda would have created a formidable global automotive group, potentially better positioned to compete in the era of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Despite the restructuring efforts under the Nissan NEXT plan, the company continued to face significant headwinds during Uchida's tenure. The COVID-19 pandemic, which struck shortly after Uchida took office, disrupted global supply chains, forced temporary factory closures, and suppressed demand across key markets. While the automotive industry broadly recovered from the pandemic's initial impact, Nissan's recovery was slower and less robust than that of some competitors.


However, the merger discussions ultimately collapsed. According to multiple reports, the negotiations failed to produce an agreement that was acceptable to both parties.<ref name="wardsauto">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan ousts CEO after failed Honda merger |url=https://www.wardsauto.com/news/archive-auto-nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-ivan-espinosa/742117/ |work=WardsAuto |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The failure of the Honda merger was widely reported as a significant factor in the subsequent leadership changes at Nissan, with WardsAuto reporting that Uchida was effectively "ousted" following the failed talks.<ref name="wardsauto" />
By the latter part of Uchida's tenure, Nissan's financial results had deteriorated further. The company reported substantial losses, and its competitive position in key segments — including the rapidly growing electric vehicle market — was under increasing pressure from both traditional rivals and new entrants from China and elsewhere.<ref name="cnbc">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida to step down on April 1, planning officer Espinosa named successor |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/11/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-to-step-down-on-april-1.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Continuing Financial Challenges ===
==== Failed Honda Merger Negotiations ====


Despite the restructuring efforts under the Nissan NEXT plan, Nissan continued to face serious financial challenges throughout Uchida's tenure. The company's competitive position was eroded by several factors, including the rapid rise of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, a loss of market share in key markets including China and the United States, and an inability to bring competitive new electric and hybrid models to market quickly enough to match consumer demand trends.
In a move that underscored the severity of Nissan's challenges, discussions emerged regarding a potential merger or deeper partnership with Honda Motor Company. The negotiations, which took place in the latter part of Uchida's tenure, represented an acknowledgment that Nissan might need a more transformative structural change to secure its future in an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive industry.


By late 2024 and early 2025, Nissan's financial situation had become increasingly precarious. The company reported significant losses and declining revenues, raising questions about the effectiveness of the turnaround strategy and Uchida's continued leadership.<ref name="apnews" /> The collapse of the Honda merger talks compounded these concerns, as the partnership had been seen by many investors and analysts as a potential lifeline for the struggling automaker.
However, the merger discussions with Honda ultimately failed to produce an agreement.<ref name="wardsauto">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan ousts CEO after failed Honda merger |url=https://www.wardsauto.com/news/archive-auto-nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-ivan-espinosa/742117/ |work=WardsAuto |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The collapse of the Honda merger talks was widely reported as a significant factor in the subsequent leadership changes at Nissan. WardsAuto characterized Uchida's departure in the context of the failed merger, reporting that Nissan "ousted" its CEO following the unsuccessful negotiations.<ref name="wardsauto" />


=== Departure from Nissan ===
=== Departure from Nissan ===


On March 11, 2025, Nissan announced that Uchida would step down as CEO effective April 1, 2025.<ref name="cnbc">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida to step down on April 1, planning officer Espinosa named successor |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/11/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-to-step-down-on-april-1.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The announcement was part of a broader leadership shakeup in which five senior executives departed the company.<ref name="wardsauto" /> Uchida was succeeded by Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's chief planning officer, who had overseen global product planning and motorsports operations since April 2024.<ref name="autonews">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan taps 'real car guy' Ivan Espinosa as new CEO, succeeding Makoto Uchida |url=https://www.autonews.com/nissan/an-nissan-new-ceo-ivan-espinosa-makoto-uchida-0311/ |work=Automotive News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
On March 11, 2025, Nissan announced that Uchida would step down as president and CEO effective April 1, 2025.<ref name="cnbc" /><ref name="nissannewsroom">{{cite web |title=Nissan appoints new leadership: CEO and senior management changes announced |url=https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/250311-00-e |publisher=Nissan Motor Corporation Newsroom |date=2025-03-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The company announced that Ivan Espinosa, who had been serving as Nissan's chief planning officer since April 2024 and had spent more than two decades at the company, would succeed Uchida as representative executive officer, president, and CEO.<ref name="nissannewsroom" /><ref name="autonews">{{cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Nissan taps 'real car guy' Ivan Espinosa as new CEO, succeeding Makoto Uchida |url=https://www.autonews.com/nissan/an-nissan-new-ceo-ivan-espinosa-makoto-uchida-0311/ |work=Automotive News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


The official announcement from Nissan's newsroom confirmed the appointment of Espinosa as representative executive officer, president, and CEO.<ref name="nissannewsroom">{{cite web |title=Nissan appoints new leadership: CEO and senior management changes announced |url=https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/250311-00-e |publisher=Nissan Global Newsroom |date=2025-03-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
The leadership transition was part of a broader C-suite shakeup at Nissan in which five executives stepped down.<ref name="wardsauto" /> AP News reported that Uchida was "relinquishing the post after the company reported" significant financial losses.<ref name="apnews" /> Carscoops reported on Uchida's departure in the context of his failure "to secure the automaker's future."<ref name="carscoops">{{cite web |title=Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida Steps Down After Failing To Secure The Automaker's Future |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-steps-down-after-failing-to-secure-the-automakers-future/ |publisher=Carscoops |date=2025-03-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


AP News reported that Uchida relinquished his position after the company had reported significant financial losses.<ref name="apnews" /> CarScoops reported that Uchida stepped down "after failing to secure the automaker's future," characterizing his departure as a consequence of the company's inability to find a sustainable path forward during his tenure.<ref name="carscoops">{{cite news |date=2025-03 |title=Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida Steps Down After Failing To Secure The Automaker's Future |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-steps-down-after-failing-to-secure-the-automakers-future/ |work=CarScoops |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In May 2025, Kyodo News reported that four former Nissan top executives, including Uchida, received a combined total of 646 million yen (approximately $4.5 million) in severance pay.<ref name="kyodo">{{cite news |date=2025-05-27 |title=Former top execs of struggling Nissan got $4.5 mil severance pay |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/53803 |work=Japan Wire by Kyodo News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The disclosure of the severance payments drew attention given Nissan's ongoing financial difficulties at the time.<ref name="kyodo" />


Reuters reported in May 2025 that Uchida's successor, Ivan Espinosa, announced plans that doubled the cost-cutting targets set under Uchida's leadership, describing Espinosa's route as "more credible" than the plans of his predecessor.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |date=2025-05-13 |title=Breakingviews - Troubled Nissan's new CEO maps more credible route |url=https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/troubled-nissans-new-ceo-maps-more-credible-route-2025-05-13/ |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Post-CEO Period ===


=== Post-Departure Compensation ===
Following his departure from the CEO role on April 1, 2025, Uchida's successor Ivan Espinosa began implementing new strategies for Nissan's turnaround. Reuters reported in May 2025 that Espinosa was "doubling his predecessor's" restructuring targets, suggesting that the new leadership viewed Uchida's transformation efforts as insufficient in scope.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |date=2025-05-13 |title=Breakingviews - Troubled Nissan's new CEO maps more credible route |url=https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/troubled-nissans-new-ceo-maps-more-credible-route-2025-05-13/ |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In May 2025, Kyodo News reported that four former Nissan top executives, including Uchida, received a combined total of 646 million yen (approximately $4.5 million) in severance pay.<ref name="kyodo">{{cite news |date=2025-05-27 |title=Former top execs of struggling Nissan got $4.5 mil severance pay |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/53803 |work=Japan Wire by Kyodo News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The report attracted attention given Nissan's continuing financial difficulties and the scale of losses the company had reported prior to the leadership change.
== Personal Life ==


== Personal Life ==
Makoto Uchida has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career. Public information about his family and personal interests is limited. During his tenure as CEO, he was based at Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.<ref name="nissanbio" />


Uchida has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career. Detailed information about his family, personal interests, or activities outside of his professional responsibilities has not been widely documented in publicly available sources. During his tenure as Nissan's CEO, he was based in Yokohama, Japan, where Nissan's global headquarters are located.
Throughout his career at Nissan, Uchida was noted for his international experience, having lived and worked in multiple countries as part of his various assignments within the company's global operations, most notably in China.<ref name="nytimes" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Makoto Uchida's tenure as CEO of Nissan is defined by the extraordinary circumstances under which he assumed the role and the formidable challenges he faced throughout his time leading the company. Appointed in the aftermath of one of the most dramatic corporate scandals in recent Japanese business history, Uchida was charged with simultaneously stabilizing Nissan's governance, repairing alliance relationships, and reversing the company's financial decline.
Makoto Uchida's tenure as Nissan's CEO is likely to be evaluated in the context of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances he inherited and the ongoing challenges the company faced during his approximately five years in the role. He took charge of a company reeling from one of the most dramatic corporate scandals in recent Japanese business history and attempted to chart a path toward recovery through the Nissan NEXT restructuring plan and a rebalancing of the Renault alliance.
 
Proponents of his leadership could point to the successful restructuring of the Renault cross-shareholding arrangement, which addressed a longstanding source of corporate tension and gave Nissan greater autonomy. The Nissan NEXT plan also represented a meaningful shift in corporate philosophy away from the volume-driven approach of the Ghosn era.<ref name="justauto" />


His leadership of the Nissan NEXT transformation plan represented a significant strategic pivot away from the volume-driven expansion model of the Ghosn era, emphasizing instead profitability, operational efficiency, and investment in electrification and advanced technology. However, the company's financial performance continued to deteriorate during his tenure, and the failure of the Honda merger talks underscored the difficulty of finding a viable strategic path for Nissan as an independent entity in an increasingly consolidated global automotive industry.
However, the financial results during his tenure tell a more challenging story. Nissan continued to struggle with declining sales, loss of market share in key segments, and an inability to keep pace with the rapid transformation of the automotive industry toward electric vehicles and new mobility technologies. The failure of the Honda merger negotiations and the broader C-suite shakeup that accompanied his departure suggested that Nissan's board and stakeholders concluded that a more dramatic change in leadership and strategy was necessary.<ref name="wardsauto" /><ref name="carscoops" />


The scale of the challenges Uchida faced — including a global pandemic, semiconductor shortages, the rapid ascent of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, and the legacy of Nissan's governance crisis — was extraordinary by any measure. His successor, Ivan Espinosa, inherited a company still in significant financial distress and announced plans for more aggressive cost reductions than those pursued under Uchida.<ref name="reuters" />
Reuters' characterization of Espinosa's strategy as "doubling" Uchida's restructuring targets indicated that the scale of Nissan's problems exceeded what Uchida's plans had been designed to address.<ref name="reuters" /> The severance payments received by Uchida and other departing executives also became a point of public scrutiny, given the company's precarious financial position.<ref name="kyodo" />


Uchida's departure marked the end of a period of leadership transition at Nissan that began with the arrest of Carlos Ghosn in November 2018 and lasted more than six years. His tenure illustrated the difficulties inherent in leading a major global corporation through a period of simultaneous internal crisis and profound industry transformation.
Uchida's legacy at Nissan ultimately reflects the broader challenges facing traditional Japanese automakers in an era of rapid technological disruption, intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers, and shifting consumer preferences. His tenure illustrated both the complexity of corporate turnarounds in the global automotive industry and the limits of incremental restructuring in the face of structural industry change.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Doshisha University alumni]]
[[Category:Doshisha University alumni]]
[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:Japanese automotive industry]]
[[Category:Japanese chief executives]]
[[Category:Automotive industry executives]]
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Latest revision as of 05:51, 24 February 2026



Makoto Uchida
BornMakoto Uchida
20 7, 1966
BirthplaceJapan
NationalityJapanese
OccupationBusiness executive
TitleCEO of Nissan Motor Company (2019–2025)
Known forLeading Nissan Motor Company as CEO during a period of corporate crisis and attempted restructuring
EducationDoshisha University

Makoto Uchida (Template:Lang, Uchida Makoto; born July 20, 1966) is a Japanese business executive who served as the president and chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Company from December 2019 until March 2025. Appointed in the turbulent aftermath of the arrest and ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn, Uchida inherited one of the most challenging leadership positions in the global automotive industry: stabilizing a company rocked by scandal, declining profits, and fractured alliances. His tenure was defined by efforts to restructure Nissan's operations, navigate the transition toward electrification, and manage the automaker's complex partnership with Renault. A relatively unknown figure outside of Nissan at the time of his appointment, Uchida had spent much of his career in the company's operations in China and other international markets before being elevated to the top role.[1] He stepped down from the position on April 1, 2025, and was succeeded by Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's chief planning officer.[2]

Early Life

Makoto Uchida was born on July 20, 1966, in Japan. Public information about his early childhood and family background is limited. He pursued his higher education at Doshisha University, a private university in Kyoto, Japan, one of the country's well-established academic institutions.[3]

After completing his university studies, Uchida embarked on a career that would take him through various international postings in the automotive sector. Before joining Nissan, he worked in trading and business development roles that gave him experience in global commerce.[3] His career trajectory was notable for its international scope, including significant time spent in markets outside of Japan, which would later prove instrumental in his rise within Nissan's corporate hierarchy.

Education

Uchida attended Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, where he completed his undergraduate studies.[3] Doshisha, founded in 1875, is a prominent private research university known for its programs in commerce, law, and liberal arts. Details regarding Uchida's specific field of study have not been widely documented in public sources, though his subsequent career in international trade and the automotive industry suggests a background in business or commercial disciplines.

Career

Early Career and Rise at Nissan

Uchida joined Nissan Motor Company and over the course of his career held a series of positions with increasing responsibility across the company's global operations. He gained significant experience in Nissan's international businesses, including a prominent role overseeing operations in China, one of Nissan's most important markets.[1] By the time of his appointment as CEO, Uchida held the rank of senior vice president and was serving as the head of Nissan's China operations, managing the joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation.[1][4]

His work in China was considered notable, as the country represented one of the largest automotive markets in the world and was a critical source of revenue for Nissan. Managing the joint venture with Dongfeng required navigating complex regulatory requirements, competitive pressures from domestic Chinese brands, and the growing demand for electric vehicles in the Chinese market.[1]

Appointment as CEO

On October 8, 2019, Nissan's board of directors announced that Uchida had been selected to serve as the company's next president and chief executive officer.[1][5] The appointment came at an exceptionally difficult juncture for the company. Nissan had been in turmoil since the dramatic arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn in November 2018 on charges of financial misconduct, an event that sent shockwaves through the global automotive industry and exposed deep tensions within the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance.

The period between Ghosn's arrest and Uchida's appointment had seen considerable instability in Nissan's leadership. Hiroto Saikawa, who had initially succeeded Ghosn as CEO, was himself forced to resign in September 2019 amid revelations that he had received excess compensation.[1] The company's board embarked on a search for new leadership that could restore credibility, steady the organization, and address a deteriorating financial performance.

Uchida was chosen alongside Ashwani Gupta, who was named chief operating officer, as part of a new leadership structure designed to bring stability and fresh direction to the company.[4] At the time of his appointment, Uchida was relatively unknown outside of Nissan's internal circles, which some observers saw as both a strength and a limitation — he was untainted by the Ghosn-era controversies but also lacked the high public profile that might have been expected of a leader tasked with turning around one of Japan's largest automakers.[1]

Uchida officially assumed the role of CEO in December 2019.[2]

Tenure as CEO (2019–2025)

Restructuring and the Nissan NEXT Transformation Plan

Upon taking office, Uchida faced the immediate challenge of reversing Nissan's declining financial performance. Under the Ghosn era, Nissan had pursued aggressive expansion and volume-driven sales strategies that, while boosting short-term numbers, had eroded profitability and brand value. Uchida articulated a new strategic direction that prioritized sustainable growth over raw sales volume.

In May 2020, Nissan announced its "Nissan NEXT" transformation plan, a comprehensive restructuring initiative that aimed to reduce costs, rationalize the company's global production capacity, and focus resources on core markets and technologies. The plan called for significant reductions in production capacity and the discontinuation of certain vehicle models in underperforming markets.[6]

In an interview discussing the strategy, Uchida emphasized the need for Nissan to focus on quality of sales rather than quantity, and to invest in electrification and advanced technologies that would position the company for long-term competitiveness.[6] The plan represented a departure from the growth-at-all-costs approach that had characterized the Ghosn years and reflected a more cautious, financially disciplined philosophy.

Managing the Alliance with Renault

A central element of Uchida's tenure was the management of Nissan's complex relationship with French automaker Renault. The Nissan-Renault alliance, originally forged in 1999 under Ghosn's leadership, had been a source of tension for years, with Nissan executives chafing at Renault's 43% ownership stake in Nissan while Nissan held only a 15% non-voting stake in Renault. The power imbalance had been a major source of the corporate discord that preceded Ghosn's arrest.

Under Uchida's leadership, Nissan negotiated a restructuring of the alliance's cross-shareholding arrangement. In a landmark agreement reached in 2023, Renault agreed to reduce its stake in Nissan to 15%, bringing the relationship closer to parity. This rebalancing was seen as a significant achievement for Nissan's corporate independence, though it also raised questions about the future depth and effectiveness of the partnership.

Financial Challenges and Declining Performance

Despite the restructuring efforts under the Nissan NEXT plan, the company continued to face significant headwinds during Uchida's tenure. The COVID-19 pandemic, which struck shortly after Uchida took office, disrupted global supply chains, forced temporary factory closures, and suppressed demand across key markets. While the automotive industry broadly recovered from the pandemic's initial impact, Nissan's recovery was slower and less robust than that of some competitors.

By the latter part of Uchida's tenure, Nissan's financial results had deteriorated further. The company reported substantial losses, and its competitive position in key segments — including the rapidly growing electric vehicle market — was under increasing pressure from both traditional rivals and new entrants from China and elsewhere.[7]

Failed Honda Merger Negotiations

In a move that underscored the severity of Nissan's challenges, discussions emerged regarding a potential merger or deeper partnership with Honda Motor Company. The negotiations, which took place in the latter part of Uchida's tenure, represented an acknowledgment that Nissan might need a more transformative structural change to secure its future in an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive industry.

However, the merger discussions with Honda ultimately failed to produce an agreement.[8] The collapse of the Honda merger talks was widely reported as a significant factor in the subsequent leadership changes at Nissan. WardsAuto characterized Uchida's departure in the context of the failed merger, reporting that Nissan "ousted" its CEO following the unsuccessful negotiations.[8]

Departure from Nissan

On March 11, 2025, Nissan announced that Uchida would step down as president and CEO effective April 1, 2025.[7][9] The company announced that Ivan Espinosa, who had been serving as Nissan's chief planning officer since April 2024 and had spent more than two decades at the company, would succeed Uchida as representative executive officer, president, and CEO.[9][10]

The leadership transition was part of a broader C-suite shakeup at Nissan in which five executives stepped down.[8] AP News reported that Uchida was "relinquishing the post after the company reported" significant financial losses.[2] Carscoops reported on Uchida's departure in the context of his failure "to secure the automaker's future."[11]

In May 2025, Kyodo News reported that four former Nissan top executives, including Uchida, received a combined total of 646 million yen (approximately $4.5 million) in severance pay.[12] The disclosure of the severance payments drew attention given Nissan's ongoing financial difficulties at the time.[12]

Post-CEO Period

Following his departure from the CEO role on April 1, 2025, Uchida's successor Ivan Espinosa began implementing new strategies for Nissan's turnaround. Reuters reported in May 2025 that Espinosa was "doubling his predecessor's" restructuring targets, suggesting that the new leadership viewed Uchida's transformation efforts as insufficient in scope.[13]

Personal Life

Makoto Uchida has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career. Public information about his family and personal interests is limited. During his tenure as CEO, he was based at Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.[3]

Throughout his career at Nissan, Uchida was noted for his international experience, having lived and worked in multiple countries as part of his various assignments within the company's global operations, most notably in China.[1]

Legacy

Makoto Uchida's tenure as Nissan's CEO is likely to be evaluated in the context of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances he inherited and the ongoing challenges the company faced during his approximately five years in the role. He took charge of a company reeling from one of the most dramatic corporate scandals in recent Japanese business history and attempted to chart a path toward recovery through the Nissan NEXT restructuring plan and a rebalancing of the Renault alliance.

Proponents of his leadership could point to the successful restructuring of the Renault cross-shareholding arrangement, which addressed a longstanding source of corporate tension and gave Nissan greater autonomy. The Nissan NEXT plan also represented a meaningful shift in corporate philosophy away from the volume-driven approach of the Ghosn era.[6]

However, the financial results during his tenure tell a more challenging story. Nissan continued to struggle with declining sales, loss of market share in key segments, and an inability to keep pace with the rapid transformation of the automotive industry toward electric vehicles and new mobility technologies. The failure of the Honda merger negotiations and the broader C-suite shakeup that accompanied his departure suggested that Nissan's board and stakeholders concluded that a more dramatic change in leadership and strategy was necessary.[8][11]

Reuters' characterization of Espinosa's strategy as "doubling" Uchida's restructuring targets indicated that the scale of Nissan's problems exceeded what Uchida's plans had been designed to address.[13] The severance payments received by Uchida and other departing executives also became a point of public scrutiny, given the company's precarious financial position.[12]

Uchida's legacy at Nissan ultimately reflects the broader challenges facing traditional Japanese automakers in an era of rapid technological disruption, intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers, and shifting consumer preferences. His tenure illustrated both the complexity of corporate turnarounds in the global automotive industry and the limits of incremental restructuring in the face of structural industry change.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Nissan Names Senior Vice President Makoto Uchida as Next C.E.O.".The New York Times.2019-10-08.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/business/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Nissan's chief executive steps down, and an insider with Mexico experience gets tapped for the job".AP News.2025-03-11.https://apnews.com/article/japan-nissan-uchida-autos-6341d68967fbcc677904620c2640ce29.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Makoto Uchida".Nissan Motor Corporation.https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/makoto_uchida_en.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Nissan names senior VP Makoto Uchida as next CEO, Ashwani Gupta as COO".The Globe and Mail.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/asia-pacific-business/article-nissan-names-senior-vp-makoto-uchida-as-next-ceo-ashwani-gupta-as-coo/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. — Notification of Representative Change".Nissan Motor Corporation.2019-10-09.https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/DOCUMENT/PDF/FINANCIAL/TSE/2019/20191009TDnet_E.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Interview: Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida".just-auto.https://justauto.nridigital.com/just-auto_magazine_sep20/interview_nissan_ceo_makoto_uchida.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida to step down on April 1, planning officer Espinosa named successor".CNBC.2025-03-11.https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/11/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-to-step-down-on-april-1.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Nissan ousts CEO after failed Honda merger".WardsAuto.2025-03-11.https://www.wardsauto.com/news/archive-auto-nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-ivan-espinosa/742117/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Nissan appoints new leadership: CEO and senior management changes announced".Nissan Motor Corporation Newsroom.2025-03-11.https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/250311-00-e.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Nissan taps 'real car guy' Ivan Espinosa as new CEO, succeeding Makoto Uchida".Automotive News.2025-03-11.https://www.autonews.com/nissan/an-nissan-new-ceo-ivan-espinosa-makoto-uchida-0311/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida Steps Down After Failing To Secure The Automaker's Future".Carscoops.2025-03-11.https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/nissan-ceo-makoto-uchida-steps-down-after-failing-to-secure-the-automakers-future/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Former top execs of struggling Nissan got $4.5 mil severance pay".Japan Wire by Kyodo News.2025-05-27.https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/53803.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Breakingviews - Troubled Nissan's new CEO maps more credible route".Reuters.2025-05-13.https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/troubled-nissans-new-ceo-maps-more-credible-route-2025-05-13/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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