Nissan posts $5.8 billion loss but says turnaround is gaining momentum

Nissan has reported a net loss of ¥533.1 billion (NZ$5.86b) for its financial year ending March 2026, though the Japanese carmaker says its restructuring plan is starting to deliver results.

The loss was actually an improvement on the previous year’s ¥670.9b shortfall, and Nissan’s fourth-quarter performance was dramatically stronger, with operating profit jumping from ¥5.8b to ¥68.1b compared to the same period a year earlier.

The company sold 3.15 million vehicles globally during the year, generating consolidated revenue of ¥12 trillion (NZ$132b).

Central to the recovery is Nissan’s Re:Nissan turnaround programme, which includes cutting its global manufacturing footprint from 17 production sites to 10, a consolidation that’s already under way at seven facilities. The plan also covers cost reductions across engineering and manufacturing, tighter inventory management, and a more targeted approach to EVs in China.

President and CEO Ivan Espinosa says the company is moving beyond crisis mode. “We have moved beyond recovery and are entering a phase of growth,” Espinosa says.

For buyers in New Zealand, the key question is what the restructuring means for the brand’s local lineup. Nissan has flagged a more selective sales strategy globally, and the company is forecasting a return to profitability in the current financial year, with projected operating profit of ¥200b (NZ$2.2b).

The company won’t be paying dividends this year, signalling that cash is being directed back into the business and its product pipeline.