Japanese automaker Nissan reduces losses and expects to return to profit

A worker walks past a line of Infiniti SUVs on a production line at the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Smyrna, Tenn. (AP Photo/Kristin M. Hall)

TOKYO — Japanese automaker Nissan said Wednesday it reduced losses for the fiscal year through March, but remained in the red, battered by U.S. tariffs, inflation and intensifying competition.

Nissan Motor Corp., based in the port city of Yokohama, reported a 533 billion yen ($3.4 billion) loss, smaller than the 670.9 billion yen in red ink racked up the previous fiscal year.

Nissan’s annual sales fell five per cent to 12 trillion yen (US$76 billion.)

Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa said Nissan was making steady progress and seeing “clear signs” of a turnaround.

“We have moved beyond recovery and are entering a phase of growth,” he said. “We will build on this momentum through disciplined cost management and faster product execution, driving sales and profitability.”

On a quarterly basis, Nissan had a net loss of 282.9 billion yen ($1.8 billion) in the January-March period, compared to the 676 billion yen loss the same period a year ago.

Quarterly sales declined nearly two per cent to 3.43 trillion yen ($22 billion).

Nissan said it was working on cost cuts and other efforts to become more profitable. It said it managed to record a better-than-expected operating profit and expects better results for the current year with upcoming model launches.

Nissan, which makes the Altima sedan, Pathfinder sport utility vehicle, Leaf EV and Infiniti luxury models, sold 3.15 million vehicles globally during the fiscal year ended March 31.

Despite the positive spin the executives tried to put on their revival plan, the automaker’s financials are in their worst shape in years. Nissan is slashing thousands of jobs and has sold its headquarters building.

Nissan said it expects to revert into the black for the fiscal year through March 2027, eking out a 20 billion yen ($127 million) profit.

Japanese automakers have all struggled amid powerful competition from the newer Chinese makers, now dominating Asian markets.

There were talks in recent years for Nissan to merge some operations with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co., which has also been struggling, but those talks collapsed. Although a merger is out, there may be limited cooperative partnerships.

Nissan stocks, which have zigzagged over the past year, finished four per cent higher.

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Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press