Nissan 2015 Annual Report Download - page 6

Carlos Ghosn
President and Chief Executive Officer
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
In the 12 months since our last Annual Report, Nissan Motor Corporation has become a stronger, more
efficient, and better-performing company. Fiscal 2014 was marked by many operational and financial
improvements and by significant growth in key markets.
Although conditions were challenging in several markets, a combination of encouraging demand
for new products and our sustained fiscal discipline led to record automotive net cash levels. This
performance also enabled Nissan to maintain its progressive dividend policy, delivering attractive
returns to shareholders.
Our shareholder returns and overall financial performance followed Nissan’s success in
enhancing its product line-up and delivering several award-winning models, like the X-Trail, which was
named “Car of the Year” in China. In this period, we also took further steps to enhance efficiency. This
included reducing our per-vehicle total delivery costs. We improved monozukuri competitiveness and
expanded Nissan’s global manufacturing footprint and took steps to start increasing production in
We are committed to achieving the goals of our mid-term
business plan and keeping Nissan on a path toward long-term,
sustainable growth.
Japan. And we continued to lead the way into untapped markets, such as Nigeria, where Nissan
became the first major auto brand to localize production.
As a result, we increased global volume and set a new sales record last fiscal year. This was
driven primarily by our strong performance in the United States, Mexico and Canada. In North America,
we saw record sales, with double digit gains. Nissan also saw a rebound in Western Europe, where the
market has strengthened following a period of volatility. This helped compensate for more difficult
conditions in other regions.
Our market strengths continue to be matched by product innovation and the introduction of new
technologies, not least in zero emissions. We maintained our position as the auto industry’s undisputed
leader for zero-emission mobility, led by the all-electric Nissan LEAF model.
During the year, Nissan expanded its network of partners across and beyond the auto industry.
This included expanding our strategic cooperation with Daimler and teaming up with NASA to advance
our Autonomous Drive vehicle technology. And we deepened Nissan’s longest-standing and most
important partnership, the Renault-Nissan Alliance. In 2014, the Alliance posted record synergies of
3.80 billion euros, up from 2.87 billion euros the previous year.
Taken together, these steps have ensured that Nissan has entered fiscal 2015 with powerful
momentum that we will carry forward. The full scope of our global operations will continue to be guided
by our strategic, mid-term plan, “Nissan Power 88.” Clearly, we have high expectations for Nissan. To
meet our goals, we will continue to execute our comprehensive, global strategy.
Products and new technologies
During the past fiscal year, Nissan launched 10 new models across all our brands. This product
momentum has continued in fiscal 2015 with the launches of 6 all-new vehicles. Under the Nissan
brand, we have the all-new Maxima and the all-new Titan pick-up truck in the US. In China, we will
launch the all-new Lannia, a bold, sporty mid-size sedan for young Chinese customers. Our
performance in China will be further boosted by the Venucia T70. And 2015 will be an important year
for Infiniti. We will introduce two models, the Q30 and QX30 compact crossover, which will launch first
in Europe and will be produced for the first time in Europe.
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NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 2015
TOP MESSAGE
CONTENTS
NISSAN POWER 88
PERFORMANCE
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CORPORATE FACE TIME