In a wide-ranging interview published by Shukan Post and summarized by Japan Today, Carlos Ghosn reflects on his legacy at Nissan, criticizes the company’s current leadership, and comments on the continued decline of the automaker since his departure.
Speaking from his home in Beirut, Ghosn said:
“All the work I and my team did there over 18 years is wasted.”
Ghosn emphasized that the collapse of merger talks between Nissan and Honda is symptomatic of weak leadership and a lack of strategic direction at the company. When asked about the future, he stated:
“Nissan must not surrender to despair; nor will I. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
He also defended his 2019 escape from Japan, saying:
“I have no regrets regarding my escape. The treatment I received at the hands of prosecutors was cruel, inhuman and unfair. There was no alternative but to get out of the reach of Japan’s corrupt justice system.”
When asked how Nissan might recover, Ghosn offered a bold suggestion:
“My friend Elon Musk.”
The article, written by Michael Hoffman, framed Ghosn’s story as a modern tragedy of a visionary leader brought down by internal resistance and flawed systems, yet still determined to clear his name and speak out.
March 17 2025