Nissan to Send Former R&D Exec to Struggling Mitsubishi
Mitsuhiko Yamashita will help bring reform, report says
Nissan, which will soon own a 34-percent stake in Mitsubishi, is throwing another bone to its struggling fellow Japanese automaker.
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The companies are in final stages of talks to send former Nissan executive Mitsuhiko Yamashita over to Mitsubishi, reportsReuters. Citing two sources familiar with the matter,Reuterssaid the appointment of Yamashita as Mitsubishi's tech chief could be finalized as early as Wednesday.
Yamashita served as Nissan's executive vice president in charge of product and technology R&D from 2005 to 2014. Neither Nissan nor Mitsubishi have confirmed the new appointment, although it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if it happened. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said earlier that a Nissan exec would likely help lead Mitsubishi.
Mitsubishi has admitted to overstating fuel economy data on certain vehicles sold in Japan. After the news broke, two key executives resigned, including Mitsubishi Motors President Tetsuro Aikawa and quality and product strategy chief Ryugo Nakao. In a statement at the time, Mitsubishi lamented that the scandal "caused tremendous trouble and concern to our customers and all of our stakeholders." Mitsubishi is expected to close its share transfer deal with Nissan by the end of this year.
Time will tell how the deal will affect both automakers. The fuel economy issue is Mitsubishi's third scandal in two decades, and the automaker has seen its market value decline by a whopping $3 billion.
Source: Reuters
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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