Nissan as Japan turning global?

Getting to watch high-profile people up close is one perk of our job as reporters.
This week, I did an interview with Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of Nissan and Renault.
I can only observe Nissan as an outsider.
But Nissan has changed over the last decade in one key, obvious and simple way: The makeup of the people who work there is more diverse.
It's unclear whether that's going to just slow down decision-making, or prove a gem of an asset for an automaker trying to expand in emerging markets in a world and industry that are increasingly global.
It's a nice thought to think diversity produces winners.
But does it?
Toyota and Honda don't have diverse management.
But they're beating Nissan (profit, vehicle sales).
Obviously, a company's success is so complex there are many factors that ultimately determine what happens.
And the significance of promoting diversity is likely lost on both sides of the Pacific _ in the U.S., because diversity is so commonplace, and, in Japan, because diversity is so rare.
For some reason, it's charming to watch people from different nations talk English in heavy accents to make decisions at a big company.
Maybe it's a reminder of how corporations, even big ones, are in the end about the individual people who work there.

Father of the Z

Yutaka Katayama, known as Mr. K, was a key figure in building the Nissan brand in the U.S. back in those days when Japanese automakers were still the underdog in the industry.
The "Father of the Z" recently had his 98th birthday party.
He said he has never been a religious person.
But these days, he feels a larger spirituality beyond this reality/life _ something he says is common to all religions, even religions that are fighting each other.
He is always so full of life.
He talks with enthusiasm about the future of cars.
I interviewed him several years ago (although I can't find it on the Web any more!).
As we get older, we may prefer to forget about birthdays.
But being there at a 98-year-old man's celebration helps one understand why birthdays are important.

Nissan's new technology

Today, I went to visit the new Nissan Advanced Technology Center , where the automaker is concocting the latest technology like cars that produce no pollution and cars that are smart enough to avoid collisions.
The place is very futuristic looking with a lot of light and open spaces, presumably to encourage collaboration (in style).
The cafeteria looks down into a pond.
It's a beautiful work environment.
What stands out is that the engineers are brimming with pride.
Nissan went through some hard times.
But it looks like it's come roaring back since entering the 1999 alliance with Renault.
It's investing in the future by investing in technology.

Japanese Automakers 2

A couple of stories about new technology at Japanese automakers:
Nissan and hybrid technology.
Toyota and telematics technology.

Cute culture

How do you sell a car that's made by your rival and package it so that it sells for a higher price? Nissan's Pino is a picturebook lesson in how marketing works to place a product in the consumer's consciousness so that it becomes more desirable than what it is. What makes something cute? When is beige cute (fashionable) and when is it drab (yucky)? See a photo here of a proud Pino owner and her mom. And here. You may think it's about duping the buyer, but is it? A car is a car is a car. And what you pay for these days is as much about perception/image and experience/feeling as the THING you end up owning.