Carlos Ghosn has won a reputation as an "icon of change" in the automotive industry for his leadership of Japan's Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA of France. He has slashed costs, put out aggressive profit and sales targets, and pumped money into vehicle development.
But now, as Ghosn's companies talk over potential partnerships with General Motors Corp., some industry analysts say Ghosn may have his hands full just keeping Nissan on course in the United States.
The analysts say the automaker is at a transition point. The initial batch of vehicles that revived the company is getting stale in the U.S. market, analysts and dealers say. Nissan's sales have fallen 5 percent this year, after steady growth since Ghosn's arrival in 1999. Updating these existing vehicles and introducing others will be key to determining Ghosn's success with Nissan in the United States.
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