Ghosn in 48 hours

The rains and flood didn’t stop him. On the contrary, they even inspired him.

Carlos Ghosn, the troubleshooter credited with reviving Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co., visited the country for two days this week, seeing for himself why the Philippines is considered a growing market for sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and Asian utility vehicles (AUVs).

Meeting with local executives of Nissan Motors Philippines Inc. (NMPI) and Universal Motors Corp. (UMC), local makers of Nissan cars and commercial vehicles, respectively, Ghosn was visibly wowed by the rain which left many of Metro Manila’s streets in waist-deep of floodwaters over the weekend.

He announced that an SUV and an AUV specifically designed for the Philippine market should be developed soon.

The 48-year-old Brazilian-born Ghosn is known as the "Icebreaker," a nickname he got from DaimlerChrysler Chairman Jurgen Schrempp for his skill at ignoring local business practices that stand in the way of making money.

He has worked in turnaround situations at Renault in France and at Michelin’s United States operations. He moved to Nissan in Japan in 1999 and has vowed to quit if the auto maker isn’t profitable by March the following year.

He made true his promise. In six months, Nissan was already in the black; last year it finally posted record profits.

Jack Wu, president and CEO of NMPI, said they will expand their model lineup to include an SUV and an AUV "in the near future." For his part, Richard Lee, president of UMC, said they are also planning to come up with new models next year. Both declined to reveal details of their plans.

During his visit, Ghosn announced that UMC has been chosen to receive a special award for selling the most number of units in the whole of Asia. UMC sold 4,705 units in 2001, topping its record performance in 1996. It will receive an award alongside distributors from Canada, Italy, Brazil, Algeria and the US in Japan after the Tokyo International Motorshow this October.