The Power List
The real power in the auto business isn't always under the hood. These are the 50 people who decide what you drive and when you'll be driving it
By Angus MacKenzie, Todd Lassa, Matt Stone
Photography by the Manufacturers
Nissan Motor Corporation CEO
Cost killer, revolutionary, comic-book hero
Influence on: The reinvention of Nissan. Japan's number-two automaker was in deep trouble before Renault pumped in $5.4 billion and put Ghosn in charge in 1999. His three-year Revival Plan cut thousands of jobs and closed a plant--no-nos in Japan--and replaced losses with profit after just two years. Nissan now has the highest margin of any mainstream automaker and one of the coolest model ranges: 350Z, Altima, Murano, Infiniti G35, M45 and FX35/45, and upcoming Cube and Skyline GTR.
He says: "Am I a car lover? Yes. Am I a car fanatic? No. I'll never make a wrong business decision just because I love a car."
We say: By blending Japanese production engineering with European design flair and product innovation, he's created a powerful new hybrid car company.
Service bulletin: Cost-cutting means a shortage of engineers and designers.
In the garage: A Porsche 911.
Bet you didn't know: Ghosn is a comic-book star ("The True Life of Carlos Ghosn") and late-night talk show guest in Japan.
The road ahead: STRAIGHT. In April, Ghosn also becomes CEO of Renault.
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