Nissan forecast a second straight annual loss as the worst US auto market in almost three decades and a stronger yen erode overseas sales.
The loss may total 170 billion yen ($1.7 billion) for the 12 months ending March, compared with a loss of 233.7 billion yen a year earlier, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement today.
Chief executive Carlos Ghosn (55) plans to axe 20,000 jobs this fiscal year to help cope with a slump that has forced Toyota to forecast a second straight loss and pushed General Motors Corp. to the brink of bankruptcy.
Overall auto sales in the US, traditionally the most profitable market for Nissan and Toyota, have fallen 37 per cent this year.
Nissan expects sales to fall 18 per cent this fiscal year to 6.95 trillion yen. It predicted an operating loss of 100 billion yen compared with 137.9 billion yen in the year ended March.
The company based its forecast on exchange rates of 95 yen to the dollar and 125 yen per euro. The stronger yen will widen the operating loss by 170 billion yen, Nissan said.
The carmaker fell 1 per cent to 510 yen in Tokyo trading, capping gains for the year to 59 per cent. The results were announced after the close of trading.
Bloomberg