Core Viewpoint - Nissan is facing significant financial difficulties, being the only Japanese automaker among the top three to report losses, with a net loss of 115.7 billion yen (approximately 5.6 billion RMB) in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, marking four consecutive quarters of losses [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 (April 1 to June 30), Nissan's net sales decreased to 2.706 trillion yen from 2.998 trillion yen in the previous year, while gross profit fell to 236.4 billion yen from 401.3 billion yen [4]. - The company reported an operating loss of 79.1 billion yen, compared to an operating income of 65.1 billion yen in the prior year [4]. - Non-operating income also declined significantly, dropping to 39.1 billion yen from 139.8 billion yen [4]. Market Challenges - The U.S. tariffs on Japanese automobiles, which remain as high as 27.5%, have severely impacted Nissan's performance, with an estimated loss of 68.7 billion yen attributed to these tariffs [5][7]. - In the first half of 2023, Nissan's sales in China fell by approximately 17.6%, reflecting a broader trend of declining market share as domestic brands gain prominence [8][14]. Competitive Landscape - The rise of domestic electric vehicle brands in China has eroded Nissan's traditional advantages of durability, fuel efficiency, and resale value, leading to a significant drop in sales [14]. - Nissan has fallen out of the top ten in global new car sales for the first time, overtaken by competitors including Chinese brands like BYD and Geely [9][10]. Strategic Responses - In response to its financial struggles, Nissan has initiated a revival plan called "Re:Nissan," aiming to cut costs by 500 billion yen through global layoffs and factory closures [15][16]. - The company is also focusing on reviving its presence in the Chinese market by launching new models, such as the N7, which achieved sales of over 6,000 units in June and July [18]. However, reliance on a single model is deemed insufficient for a sustainable turnaround [18].

Core Viewpoint - The Nissan R35 GT-R, a legendary sports car with an 18-year lifespan, has officially ceased production due to rising development costs driven by stricter environmental and safety regulations [1][6][7]. Group 1: Historical Significance of GT-R - The GT-R series, originating from the Prince Motor Company in the mid-20th century, has a rich history, with the first GT-R model debuting in 1969 and achieving significant racing success [3][4]. - The R35 GT-R, launched in 2007, has seen production of approximately 48,000 units, with over 17,000 sold in Japan [4][6]. Group 2: Rising Costs and Market Challenges - The development costs for the R35 GT-R have nearly doubled, with the base model's price increasing from 7.77 million yen to 14.44 million yen due to regulatory changes [6][9]. - Nissan is currently undergoing a restructuring phase, facing a net loss of 115.7 billion yen for the April-June 2025 quarter and a total loss of 670.9 billion yen for the 2024 fiscal year [9][10]. Group 3: Industry Trends and Future Outlook - The automotive industry is experiencing a challenging environment for sports car development, with several manufacturers, including Mitsubishi and Subaru, also halting production of their performance models [10]. - Nissan's leadership is focused on cost reduction and improving product competitiveness, with plans to cut 500 billion yen in costs by the 2026 fiscal year [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the differences in succession practices between Japanese and Chinese family businesses, highlighting Japan's unique approach to inheritance and the cultural significance of family legacy in business continuity [6][29]. Group 1: Japanese Succession Practices - In Japan, succession is viewed as an obligation rather than a choice, with discussions focused on "who will succeed" rather than "whether to succeed" [6][14]. - The concept of "muko-iyashi" (婿养子) allows sons-in-law to inherit family businesses, integrating them into the family and ensuring continuity [16][22]. - Approximately 97% of Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises are family-owned, with about 66% being family-operated [13]. Group 2: Examples of Successful Succession - Toyota is a prime example of successful family succession, with multiple generations of the Toyota family and external leaders contributing to its growth [7][8]. - Nintendo's succession involved a son-in-law taking over, demonstrating the effectiveness of the muko-iyashi system in maintaining business stability [20]. - Companies like Uniqlo and Japan's largest courier service, Yamato Transport, have also seen successful transitions through family or external leadership [10][11]. Group 3: Cultural Factors Influencing Succession - Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on family legacy, with societal expectations for heirs to take over family businesses [28][29]. - The long-standing tradition of prioritizing family names and businesses contributes to a stable environment for succession [26][30]. - The average lifespan of Japanese companies is longer, making succession meaningful and culturally significant [29]. Group 4: Challenges and Considerations - While Japan has a robust succession framework, challenges such as internal conflicts and the need for modernization can arise [10][11]. - The article notes that Japan has fewer high-profile failures in succession compared to other countries, indicating a generally stable transition process [8][13]. - The high inheritance tax in Japan is mitigated by special provisions for business succession, encouraging continuity [29].

Core Viewpoint - Nissan's global sales in July reached 262,745 units, marking a 1% year-on-year increase, with significant growth in the Chinese market contributing to this performance [2][4]. Group 1: Sales Performance - In July, Nissan's sales in China grew by 22%, totaling 57,359 units, which helped offset declines in Japan and Europe [2][4]. - The launch of the pure electric sedan "N7" in China in late April has been a strong performer, compensating for the downturn in other markets [2][4]. - Despite a decline in U.S. sales, North America overall saw a 4% increase, reaching 107,929 units [4]. Group 2: Market Challenges - Japan's domestic sales fell by 19%, the largest drop among eight major automakers in the country [4]. - The overall production of Japan's eight major passenger car companies decreased by 2% year-on-year, totaling 1,978,949 units in July [4]. - Mazda experienced the largest decline, with a 23% drop in production, falling to 86,551 units, and a significant 28% decrease in domestic production [4].

Core Insights - Nissan has officially ceased production of the R35 GT-R model, marking a significant shift in the era of traditional high-performance gasoline vehicles [2] - The last R35 GT-R was produced at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan, with CEO Ivan Espinosa indicating that the GT-R may return in an evolved form in the future [2] - The R35 GT-R, which began production in 2007, has a total production volume of approximately 48,000 units over its 18-year lifespan and set a record with a Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes and 29.03 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world [2] Financial Context - Nissan is currently in the early stages of a turnaround plan, with an expected operating loss of 180 billion yen during the period from April to September [2]

日产汽车7月从日本出口到北美的汽车数量同比增长16%，达到14416辆。 ...

Battery - Huayu Automotive plans to acquire 49% equity of SAIC Qingtao for 206 million RMB, aiming to enhance its "smart power" platform and synergize solid-state battery business with electric drive and thermal management [2] - Hichain Energy signed a major energy storage project cooperation agreement with Saudi Electric Company and Alfanar Group to build two large-scale energy storage projects in Saudi Arabia, totaling 1GW/4GWh, using Hichain's self-developed energy storage batteries [3] - Nissan has partnered with LiCAP Technologies to develop production technology for all-solid-state battery electrodes, with plans to launch electric vehicles equipped with self-developed solid-state batteries by the fiscal year 2028 [4] - Suzhou Qingtai New Energy won a bid for a 200MW/800MWh semi-solid lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage system project in Inner Mongolia, with a bid amount of 440 million RMB, equivalent to approximately 0.55 RMB/Wh [6] - Baishike's zero-carbon factory project for high-value utilization of power batteries in Huai'an, Jiangsu, has commenced, with an annual processing capacity of 300,000 tons of waste power batteries and an investment of 3.2 billion RMB [8] Materials - Jiuwu High-Tech won a bid for a lithium extraction membrane treatment system project from Guotou Xinjiang Lithium Industry, with a bid amount of 81.5 million RMB, accounting for 15.28% of the company's audited revenue for 2024 [7] Overseas - The German automotive industry has seen a net reduction of approximately 51,500 jobs over the past year, representing nearly 7% of total jobs, largely due to high tariffs imposed by the U.S. affecting German goods [10][11]

Group 1 - BYD and Geely ranked among the top ten global new car sales for the first half of 2025, with sales growth of 33% and 29% respectively, while Nissan fell out of the top ten for the first time [1][3] - Chery, ranked 12th, also showed a significant year-on-year sales increase of 14% [1] - Chinese automakers are gradually moving towards profitability amidst global competition and are increasingly gaining influence in the market, as evidenced by their improved rankings in the Fortune Global 500 list [3][6] Group 2 - Nissan's global sales dropped to 1.61 million units in the first half of the year, the lowest since the 2009 financial crisis, marking a significant decline [3][5] - The company faced an 18% decrease in sales in China, with only 270,000 units sold, a nearly 60% drop from its peak in 2018 [5] - Nissan's financial struggles are compounded by insufficient hybrid model offerings in the U.S. and challenges in Southeast Asia due to competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers [5][6] Group 3 - The automotive industry is undergoing a transformation led by Chinese manufacturers, with a shift from technology to market presence, resulting in a reshuffling of global sales rankings [6]

Core Insights - Nissan has partnered with US-based LiCAP Technologies to develop production process technology for all-solid-state battery cathodes [1] - The company has initiated pilot production line operations for all-solid-state batteries starting January 2025 [1] - Nissan plans to launch electric vehicles equipped with its self-developed all-solid-state batteries in the fiscal year 2028 and is accelerating related R&D efforts to achieve this goal [1]

Core Points - Mercedes-Benz confirmed the sale of its entire stake in Nissan for 47.87 billion yen, approximately 2.324 billion yuan [1] - The shares were sold at a price of 341.3 yen per share, totaling 140.1 million shares, and the sale is part of a strategy to "clean up the investment portfolio" [1] - The Nissan shares had been transferred to pension assets since 2016 and were not considered a strategic investment [1] Company and Industry Summary - As of the end of March this year, Mercedes-Benz held a 3.77% stake in Nissan [3] - The sale occurred after Nissan and its largest shareholder, Renault, modified their cooperation agreement, reducing Renault's shareholding requirement from 15% to 10% [3] - Nissan declined to comment on the sale at the time of reporting [3]