Interview: Carlos Ghosn, ceo Nissan (page 2 of 2)

The car will get cleaner and cleaner. There will be more and more classic combustion engines as well as more and more clean diesel engines. There will be a proliferation of new technologies with the putting into place of a classification system so that there will be less emissions of polluting gases. Then, these kinds of cars will be put on the market when their cost is acceptable to consumers. These are the parameters that will guide the strategic choices of the industry.

Q. Why did Nissan relaunch the Z Car? How has it performed?

A. It's the bestselling sports car on the American and Japanese markets. We are very satisfied with how sales of the Z Car have evolved. It was launched because we thought that it would provide an opportunity to increase our sales - and our profits as a consequence. At the same time, it's a car that will be greatly appreciated by the brand's market. A remarkable job has been done in terms of design and motorization. It responds well and is a pleasure to drive. Moreover, its price is clearly very reasonable.

Q. Have you kept your Middle Eastern side?

A. You know, it's very difficult for me to answer this question. It would be better to ask the people that know me because it's difficult for me to distinguish between my roots - Middle Eastern, Brazilian and French - which, moreover, have been mixed with my American and Japanese experience. But the people who meet me must say that I sometimes have a Middle Eastern side to me.