Nissan chief wary of hybrids
Evidence of sales slowdown shows gasoline savings may not justify extra cost, he says
By Associated Press | April 13, 2006

NEW YORK — Nissan Motor Co.’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, said he feels vindicated that hybrids could be seeing a sales slowdown, since he has repeatedly warned it’s too early to fully back the technology.

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Carlos Ghosn was recently named by Barron’s Magazine one of the world’s 100 Best CEO’s

Why: Saving two fabled auto makers.

After spearheading an extraordinary turnaround at Japan’s Nissan Motor, Carlos Ghosn, 52, is attempting an encore with the hurting Renault, whose operating profit plunged by a third in ‘05.

The Brazilian-born Ghosn — who took the French car maker’s reins last May and remains CEO of Nissan, which is 44% owned by Renault — has announced a sweeping restructuring.

His goal: a Renault revival without job cuts. This is France, after all. Ghosn intends to cut non-labor manufacturing costs 12%, boost capacity utilization, introduce 26 new models, and expand sales into South America, India, Iran and South Korea. If anyone can do it, it’s Ghosn. — V. J. R

Perhaps Mr. Ghosn is looking for a hybrid engine that didn’t require expensive batteries and controls, was more fuel effecient, powerful and economically friendly than today’s gas-electic models?

Where could he find something like that?