Nissan 2012 Annual Report Download - page 6

Strong Performance in a Tough Year
The 3/11 earthquake and tsunami inflicted enormous damage, mainly in Japan’s Tohoku region.
The catastrophe took numerous lives and deprived people of their normal, everyday life. Nissan
runs operations in the affected areas, and the company has been taking various actions to
support the disaster-stricken regions while restoring its business. Our support includes
implementing humanitarian aid, providing Nissan LEAF electric vehicles (EVs) and 4WD Patrols,
and dispatching a mobile library for children in the affected areas.
The disaster damaged our Tochigi and Iwaki Plants, and we had to suspend some operations
for two months because of the disrupted supply chain. Even in this state of emergency, a number
of actions helped us resume production and mitigate the effects on our operations outside Japan.
This is a fruit of our swift, companywide cross-functional/cross-regional initiatives based on the
Nissan Way: “The power comes from inside.” Our guiding principle for all employees, the Nissan
Way has been fostered through our business operations. It proved its worth again in addressing
such challenges as the strengthening yen and flooding in Thailand and helping to lessen their
impacts on us.
Despite a number of difficulties beyond
our control, Nissan’s sales hit an all-time
high in fiscal 2011, while profit grew year-
on-year. We were put to the test, but we
fulfilled our potential and surmounted the
challenges. This success has not made us
complacent, the business environment
remains volatile, and global competition is
intensifying every day. We are increasing our
competitive edge to adapt to the changes.
Let me describe the changes we face and
what we are doing to adjust to them.
A Focus on Diversity
Needless to say, many manufacturers including automakers in Japan are struggling in cutthroat
competition in the global market. These companies share a common challenge: the Japanese yen is
at a historic high. Against this backdrop, We believe that retaining a certain amount of R&D and
manufacturing activities in Japan is critical to continue growing and competing in the global arena.
Innovation & Power of brand
Year 2 Power 88
Performance Corporate Data Corporate Governance
05
NISSAN Annual Report 2012Message from the COO
Toshiyuki Shiga Chief Operating Officer
Nissan addressed great challenges in the fi rst
year of its new mid-term business plan. With a
focus on geographic and consumer diversity, as
well as environmentally friendly mobility options,
it epitomized the Nissan Way: “The power comes
from inside.”
Message from the COO
The Power We Need in
Volatile Times