Nissan’s new CEO is a certified car guy

Significant changes are underway at Nissan as the automaker has appointed Ivan Espinosa as its new representative executive officer, president, and CEO, replacing Makoto Uchida. Currently serving as chief planning officer, Espinosa will assume his new role on April 1. He is set to replace Makoto Uchida, who has been Nissan's CEO since 2019.

Regarding his experiences, Espinosa has built a remarkable career at Nissan. He joined the company in 2003 as a product manager in Nissan Mexico's planning division and steadily rose through the ranks to hold key leadership positions.

A few months back, Espinosa spoke of possibly reviving a famous Nissan nameplate. During his tenure as VP of global strategy, he expressed a strong desire to revive the Nissan Silvia. "It’ll be a challenge," he admitted at the time. "But it’s my job to find ways to make things like this happen because I believe it would be great for customers and the brand. If I can find the right formula, we could make it work."

In the late '90s, the Nissan Silvia was a popular choice for enthusiasts seeking a rear-wheel-drive platform. It offered an affordable way to own a stylish and increasingly rare rear-wheel-drive coupe.

April is still a few days away, and for Espinosa, the immediate priority is guiding Nissan back to profitability before allocating resources to a new sports car. However, with orders for the R35-generation GT-R now closed, there’s room for a new flagship—or at least a worthy companion to the Nissan Z. While a Silvia revival remains more of a dream than a certainty, Espinosa’s leadership keeps the possibility alive.

For now, Nissan Philippines Inc. continues to offer an exciting lineup of performance and passenger vehicles, including the dynamic Z. Explore their full range at AutoDeal.com.ph.