Nissan’s survival bleak, 12-14 months left without investor

A recent report says Nissan’s survival bleak since it is down to just now down to 12-14 months left unless a new investor comes on board.

Nissan’s survival bleak

According to a new report from The Financial Times, Nissan is now seeking an anchor investor to navigate a critical year ahead.

Insider sources suggest the automaker is exploring options for a stable shareholder, such as a bank or insurance company, though it hasn’t ruled out collaboration with a rival automaker. One potential candidate is Honda, with whom Nissan is already partnering on vehicle electrification and software technologies as part of an agreement announced earlier this year.

“We have 12 or 14 months to survive,” a senior Nissan official reportedly told The Financial Times.

Renault, currently a major shareholder in Nissan, rescued the company from near bankruptcy in 1999. However, Renault has recently reduced its stake from 43% to just under 36%. Sources close to Renault told The Financial Times that the company might consider selling additional shares to Honda, as Honda’s involvement could indirectly benefit Renault as well.

Last month, Nissan announced plans to lay off around 9,000 employees—about 6.7% of its global workforce—and cut production capacity by 20%, citing declining sales in key markets like the U.S. and China.

They have also announced plans to cut production of their top-selling Rogue and Frontier.

Nissan’s product lineup has struggled due to limited model updates over the years, though this trend is beginning to shift. The automaker is planning to launch redesigned versions of the Murano and Armada/Patrol in 2025. However, the absence of hybrid offerings in the U.S.—a growing segment—has been a significant disadvantage.

Despite these challenges, Nissan’s partnership with Honda provides a promising outlook, with plans to expand its EV lineup. Mitsubishi may also join the collaboration, potentially bringing plug-in hybrid technology into the mix.