Ghosn, Ghosn, gone?

Is Nissan's turnaround about to go back on the downswing? So asks Automotive News today as it reports that Nissan was down over seven percent in May (Infiniti over 11 percent) and has scheduled its Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss. plants to go idle for an additional six days to cut inventory. What's more is that two Japanese plants that make Infinitis for the North American market are also cutting back on production. As a result, many observers note that Nissan just isn't experiencing the kind of growth seen by fellow Japanese companies Toyota and Honda.

Ghosn seems to think that examing the company so closely isn't quite fair.  "You can't judge Nissan's long-term strategy by a three- or six-month period," he said,  "You have to look at five or six years." Ghosn also made the point that Nissan is on the verge of launching a whole new lineup, which will no doubt shake up its sales. For his sake and Nissan's, let's hope the downturn is just temporary.

[Source: Automotive News via AutoWeek]