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Ghosn's first jail interview: I was the victim of 'plot and treason'

TOKYO — Carlos Ghosn said Nissan executives opposed to his plans for closer ties with automaking partner Renault SA resorted to "plot and treason" to disrupt them and were behind the financial misconduct allegations against him. Speaking to the Nikkei newspaper in his first media interview since his arrest on Nov. 19, Ghosn said he had discussed plans to integrate the companies with Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa in September. But Nissan executives employed "plot and treason" to uproot those plans, Ghosn said. Ghosn, who spearheaded Nissan's turnaround two decades ago, had pushed for a deeper tie-up between Nissan and Renault, including possibly a full merger, despite strong reservations at the Japanese corporation. He remains in detention following his arrest and indictment on charges related to breach of trust and understating his salary. His arrest has clouded the outlook for closer ties between Nissan and Renault, along with Mitsubishi Motors Corp, the third member of the automaking alliance Since his arrest, Saikawa has said it was not the time to discuss revising the partners' complex capital ties. Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have dismissed Ghosn as chairman, while he has resigned from the helm at Renault. Ghosn denied accusations of improper payments to a company run by a Saudi businessman, saying the payment had been approved by a Nissan executive. Ghosn also called accusations by both Nissan and Mitsubishi that he received nearly 8 million euros in improper payment through a Dutch-based joint venture of the two automakers "a distortion of reality," and argued his luxury residences in Rio de Janeiro and Beirut were approved by Nissan's legal department. Nissan has said it was not aware that it had paid for many of Ghosn's properties. On Wednesday, a spokesman said that the company was unable to comment on Ghosn's legal defense. Ghosn, in the 20-minute interview, denied that his tenure at Nissan had been a "dictatorship." "People translated strong leadership to dictator, to distort reality" for the "purpose of getting rid of me," he said. Ghosn added that his health was fine, and that he wouldn't flee if freed on bail. Meanwhile, NHK reported that Saikawa plans to hold his first face-to-face discussion with new Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard on the sidelines of an alliance meeting in the Netherlands on Thursday.Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Nissan beats 2Q expectations with $1.3b profit

Nissan reported its Q1 financial results through the April-June period, and Bloomberg reports that the Japanese automaker beat analyst expectations. The outlet averaged income estimates provided by 11 analysts to come up with a figure of 130.2 billion yen ($1.3 billion), while Reuters' analyst survey returned a estimate of 163 billion yen ($1.6 billion) in operating profit. Nissan easily beat them both with 152.8 billion in net income and 193.7 billion in operating profit. That profit number is up from 122.6 billion yen in the same quarter last year. The surge comes from increased US sales. June sales grew 13 percent, helping propel a 4.5-percent increase for the year so far and the best first-half calendar-year sales Nissan has had in ten years. Higher incentives have helped, as well as superheated Nissan Rogue sales; the crossover moved 99,302 units through the first six months of 2014, this year that number is 135,397, and observers expect its popularity to continue. In contrast to other automakers struggling with the slowdown in China, Nissan isn't doing so badly there. Growth rose by 5.7 percent in the first half of this year, a number that would have been larger but for depressed commercial vehicle sales because of the economy's slowdown. Nissan is sticking with its original targets, sure that government intervention and new models will hold the markets steady enough. The press release below has more information on the numbers. Nissan reports net income of $1.3 billion for first quarter of FY2015 Results for three months to June 30, 2015 (TSE report basis – China JV equity basis)* Acct - Q1 - Y-O-Y Net revenue - JPY2.90 trillion ($23.9 billion/ˆ21.6 billion) - +17.6% Operating profit - JPY193.7 billion ($1.6 billion/ˆ1.4 billion) - +58.0% Ordinary profit - JPY215.9 billion ($1.8 billion/ˆ1.6 billion) - +45.2% Net income** - JPY152.8 billion ($1.3 billion/ˆ1.1 billion) - +36.3% Based on average foreign exchange rates of JPY 121.4/USD and JPY 134.2/EUR YOKOHAMA, Japan , Jul. 29, 2015 – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced fiscal year first quarter financial results for the three months ending June 30, 2015. The company reported net revenue of $23.9 billion (2.90 trillion yen), an increase of 17.6% versus 2.47 trillion yen a year ago. Operating profit was $1.6 billion (193.7 billion yen), up from 122.6 billion yen, a 58.0% increase. Net income was $1.3 billion (152.8 billion yen), an increase of 36.3% versus 112.1 billion yen in the prior year.

Ever wonder how to really pronounce Japanese automaker names?

People tend to get very set in their ways when it comes to the pronunciation of words. Just look at the endless debates over whether or not to say the final 'e' in Porsche (which you should in terms of correct German enunciation). Or the argument about whether to follow the British convention and give the 'u' in Jaguar a special delivery or to say the 'ua' diphthong as more of a 'w' sound, as usually happens in the US.
This short video doesn't answer either of those automotive questions, but it does allow a native Japanese speaker to demonstrate the accepted pronunciations for several, major automakers from the country. One benefit is that it clears up the occasional debate over whether Nissan should be said with a long or short 'i' sound. Also, listen closely to how the female host says Mazda as Matsuda, the way it's actually said in the language. Even if this doesn't change the way you enunciate these brands, at least now you know the accurate way in Japanese.