Ghosn Out at Nissan Following Arrest
Carlos Ghosn will be ousted as head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and face criminal charges in Japan after being accused of underreporting income in official stock market filings.

Nissan’s board will convene this week to remove Chairman Carlos Ghosn following accusations of financial misdeeds, including underreporting income.
Photo courtesy Nissan USA Inc.
YOKOHAMA, Japan — Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said Chairman Carlos Ghosn will be removed from office this week following a months-long internal investigation into financial misdeeds. Ghosn and another Nissan executive, Representative Director Greg Kelly, also face criminal charges in Japan.
“We have confirmed these two are the masterminds,” Saikawa told the Asahi newspaper, adding that “The alliance partnership itself will not be affected by this event. … This is a negative impact of the long regime of Mr. Ghosn. This is a good opportunity to revise the way we work.”
Ghosn, 64, rose to international prominence during his long tenure with Renault and, starting in 1999, Nissan, in which Renault owns a controlling share. The Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese descent earned the nicknames “Le Cost Killer” and “Mr. Fix It” after restructuring both companies and was at times urged to run for president in Lebanon. In 2016, he was appointed to oversee the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, a cross-shareholding agreement that formed the world’s third-largest auto manufacturing group.
Ghosn and Kelly, 62, are accused of systematically underreporting Ghosn’s income in official filings with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. At a press conference, Saikawa said Nissan’s investigation also revealed Ghosn misused company assets and corporate investment funds for personal gain. Ghosn reportedly earned about $10 million from Nissan alone in 2016; he also earns income from Renault and Mitsubishi.
In a statement preceding the press conference, Nissan noted the company had been sharing information with the Japanese Public Prosecutor’s Office as the investigation progressed. Prosecutors in Japan announced Ghosn was arrested there Monday evening.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Badger State Dealership Gets New Owner
The longtime southern Wisconsin store moved from one area auto group to another, keeping the business in Dairyland.
Read More →
The Cycle of Negative Equity
Third-quarter data shows consumers still rolling over debt and stretching loan terms, raising their risk of remaining underwater.
Read More →
Charger Network Growth Slows
Despite a projected increase in public EV chargers in 2026, charging infrastructure remains a top concern for consumers as the gap between the most and least EV-friendly places remains substantial.
Read More →
Lenders, Consumers Take on More Auto Loan Risk
September records loosened credit access the most in over a decade as buyers took advantage of the conditions to afford trading, though loan applications fell.
Read More →
Next-Gen Hybrids in Sight
Dealerships can expect to see revamped hybrids from Honda next year as the company rolls out a new system and model lineup.
Read More →
Gem State Stores Change Hands
A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.
Read More →
Charging In Motion
Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.
Read More →
Twin Cities Stores Sell
Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.
Read More →
U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels
Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.
Read More →
The Powertrain Shift
Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.
Read More →