May 13, 2025 – Japanese auto giant Nissan is preparing to slash approximately 20,000 jobs worldwide, significantly raising the scale of its previously announced cuts, according to reports in local media.
The drastic reduction amounts to nearly 15% of Nissan’s global workforce of around 130,000 employees, as reported by Nikkei on Monday.
The expanded job cuts come as Nissan grapples with ongoing financial and operational challenges, particularly in key markets such as North America and China. The company has been under pressure to accelerate its restructuring efforts as losses mount and competition intensifies in the global auto sector.
As part of its revised strategy, Nissan is also scaling back investments in certain future projects. Most notably, it has scrapped previously announced plans to construct an electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in Kitakyushu, Japan—a project that was seen as a cornerstone of the automaker’s EV ambitions.
Further details about the restructuring are expected to be officially disclosed during Nissan’s earnings report scheduled for Tuesday. Analysts anticipate that the automaker will provide a clearer picture of its turnaround plan, including cost-saving measures and global production adjustments.
In a related development, Nissan had earlier explored the possibility of a strategic partnership with Honda Motor Co., aiming for a potential merger to stabilize operations and gain synergies in technology and production. However, those talks fell through earlier this year amid disagreements between the two sides, leading to the collapse of merger discussions.
The latest job cut announcement highlights the urgency with which Nissan is trying to reposition itself in a rapidly changing automotive landscape, where electrification and global competition are reshaping the industry. With markets evolving and cost pressures mounting, the company faces a critical phase in redefining its role among global carmakers.
The auto industry will be closely watching Nissan’s upcoming announcements to gauge how one of Japan’s oldest car brands plans to regain its footing.