Nissan CEO Admires Saudi Vision 2030, Says Region Boasts Massive Potential

Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20

Nissan CEO Admires Saudi Vision 2030, Says Region Boasts Massive Potential

Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida stressed that the Middle East boasts major potential in the automotive industry, revealing that he was seeking greater dialogue with the Saudi government to secure a stronger presence for his company.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of a recent visit to the region, he expressed his admiration for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, saying there was a lot of potential in the Kingdom.

Several influential parties are becoming involved in the automotive industry around the world. The challenge lies in how to achieve growth in regions “where we can showcase our strengths. I believe the Middle East is one of those regions,” he added.

The Middle East has a lot of potential for growth, he stressed, while underscoring the importance of sustainable growth.

At the same time, Uchida said he always felt a deep sense of historic connection between Nissan and the region.

The company’s success can be attributed to a strong network of distributors and trust on the government level, he went on to say.

Moreover, he noted the major change in the industry worldwide, underlining the importance of working towards a net zero future. This is a major responsibility for Nissan.

However, he noted that the industry has grown more fragmented. “Before, we had a more global model, whose main hub used to be Japan. Now, we have branched out to the United States, Europe, the Middle East and other regions. Each region is moving according to its own beat.”

Uchida added that Nissan boasts 6.5 percent of the market, a figure the company is aiming to increase.

He highlighted Nissan the Arc plan that aims to raise value and bolster competitiveness and profitability. Five new SUVs will be introduced to the region.

Uchida said that maintaining sustainable work is a challenge, but he remains optimistic. “We are capable of achieving more, especially given the cooperation we have with strong partners in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We are keen on further exploring those opportunities,” he remarked.

On the choice to unveil the latest Nissan Patrol model in Abu Dhabi, he said it was due to the importance of the region and the history of the Patrol enjoys there.

It was only logical to unveil the seventh generation of the vehicle in the Middle East, he went on to say.

On his plans and strategies since taking the helm in 2019, he cited the major challenges that Nissan encountered inside the company and in general, including the Covid-19 pandemic that forced many companies to adapt to a changing work environment.

It was evident that the industry was never going to be the same. So, it became necessary to move and adapt rapidly, he explained. The need to change and adapt and adjust to the demands of the future was witnessed in several regions, including Saudi Arabia.

The ability to act rapidly has become a necessity to achieve success, Uchida said.

He also spoke of rapid developments brought about by technology, such as Artificial Intelligence and self-driving vehicles. They will have a greater role much sooner than expected.

“Our goal at Nissan is to successfully steer the company during this period of change while preserving our progress and maintaining our growth and prosperity,” he stressed.



Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
TT
20

Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after a gain of 4% in the previous session, as markets weighed up the chance of supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict and as they ponder a direct US involvement.

Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $75.52 a barrel by 0918 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 88 cents, also 1.2%, to $73.96 per barrel.

US President Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin, and called for an "unconditional surrender" from Iran.

While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a tougher stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

A source familiar with internal discussions said one of the options Trump and his team are considering included joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

A direct US involvement threatens to widen the confrontation further, putting energy infrastructure in the region at higher risk of attack, analysts say.

"The biggest fear for the oil market is the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts said in a note.

"Almost a third of global seaborne oil trade moves through this chokepoint. A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push prices to $120 [a barrel]," the bank added.

Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said on Wednesday that Tehran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Markets are also looking ahead to a second day of US Federal Reserve discussions on Wednesday, in which the central bank is expected to leave its benchmark overnight interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

However, the conflict in the Middle East and the risk of slowing global growth could potentially push the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points in July, sooner than the market's current expectation of September, said Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG.

Lower interest rates generally boost economic growth and demand for oil.

Confounding the decision for the Fed, however, is the Middle East conflict's potential creation of a new source of inflation via surging oil prices.

US crude stocks fell by 10.1 million barrels in the week ended June 13, market sources told Reuters, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Official Energy Information Administration data is due later on Wednesday.