
How Low-Ego Leaders Are Outperforming the Loud Ones
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
February 10, 2022: On Tuesday, the chief operating officer of Nissan explained that his company has decided to move away from the development of new internal combustion engines in Europe once a stricter set of emissions standards, known as Euro 7, come into force.
During an interview with CNBC, Gupta made some of the reasons behind the planned shift, a subject he has addressed several times in the past.
A key reason behind the decision, the reporter said, related to how competitive ICE cars would be after the introduction of Euro 7, given that new technology would have to be used for these vehicles to comply with regulations. One more factor to consider was whether customers would be willing to pay for the cost of such tech.
According to Brussels-headquartered campaign group Transport & Environment, it is expecting that Euro 7 standards will be implemented in 2025. From Gupta’s comments, it would appear Nissan made its mind upon how the market will develop, and European consumers will behave going forward.
“If the total cost of ownership of battery-electric cars at Euro 7 is less than the total cost of ownership for the ICE cars,” he said, ”definitely, customers will go for battery cars. So that’s why we’ve decided not to develop ICE engines, starting Euro 7, for Europe.”
Gupta was also keen to stress that the decision related to developing new ICE engines rather than those already in the market.
Nissan, he explained, believed customers would have to pay “much more” for an ICE car than an electrified one at the time of Euro 7′s introduction. “It’s not us who is deciding, and it’s customers who will say that the electric car has more value than an ICE car.”
Away from Europe, he said the Japanese automotive giant would “continue to do ICE engines as far as it makes sense for the customer and the business.”
In the previous November, Nissan said it would invest 2 trillion Japanese yen ($17.3 billion) in the next five years to speed up the electrification of its product line.
The company said it would target to roll out 23 new electrified models by 2030, 15 fully electric. It targets a 50% electrification mix for its Nissan and Infiniti brands by the end of the decade.
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
Companies invest millions in leadership development, yet many of their best executives leave within a few years. Why?
The most successful business leaders don’t just identify gaps in the market; they anticipate future needs before anyone else.
With technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and global interconnectedness, the role of business leaders
The leadership landscape is profoundly changing, influenced by technological advancements, shifting workforce expectations, and the need for adaptability in an unpredictable global environment.
May 12, 2025: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly challenged Vladimir Putin to attend in-person peace talks,
April 29, 2025: Mark Carney has secured a decisive victory in Canada’s federal election, returning to national leadership after years at the helm of major central banks.
April 24, 2025: Silicon Valley is experiencing a sharp recalibration in artificial intelligence investment, with signs of AI fatigue emerging across venture capital
April 23, 2025: The Canadian government has introduced new legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in education and healthcare, focusing on accountability,
Leave us a message
Subscribe
Fill the form our team will contact you
Advertise with us
Fill the form our team will contact you