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Today, struggling OEM Nissan has announced that current CEO Makoto Uchida will be replaced by Ivan Espinosa, their latest attempt to jumpstart a turnaround. Plus, chaos at a Carmax dealership as a customer rammed their vehicle into the building and China is making AI education mandatory, even for elementary school children.

Show Notes with links:

• Nissan has appointed Ivan Espinosa as its new CEO, tasking him with accelerating the company’s turnaround after years of turmoil. He takes over from Makoto Uchida, who struggled to win full support internally and is stepping down after five years at the helm.
  • Uchida’s leadership saw mixed success, with progress on restructuring but falling short on sales targets and failed Honda merger talks.
  • Espinosa, 46, was selected at a March 11 board meeting and will assume the role on April 1.
  • A product-driven executive, Espinosa has been serving as Chief Planning Officer, overseeing Nissan’s global product strategy and helping shape its EV and performance vehicle direction. 
  • Nissan faces mounting losses, weak sales, and a junk credit rating, with a significant debt load maturing next year.
  • Espinosa says he will take a “360-degree look” at the company, emphasizing stability, growth, and strengthening the North American lineup.
  • Nissan Chairman Yasushi Kimura admitted, “It would be a very challenging start for Ivan.”

• A routine vehicle appraisal turned into chaos at a CarMax dealership in Inglewood, California, when an angry customer drove his Subaru Outback through the showroom, injuring eight people after being upset with his offer.
  • The incident occurred this past Saturday at 2 p.m., with the driver ramming into the store twice before fleeing the scene.
  • Two people were critically injured, while six others sustained minor injuries, including two CarMax employees.
  • 25-year-old Andrew Arroyo, reportedly on probation for a “wet reckless” charge, later turned himself in at the LAPD Academy.
  • A video of the event has surfaced on TikTok and is being used in the police investigation.
  • Witness Mitchell Marshall described the scene: “He backed up, made a big U-turn, and rammed it not once, but twice.”
  • CarMax issued a statement, confirming their employees were among the injured and thanking authorities for their swift response.

• Beijing is making artificial intelligence education compulsory for students of all ages, including elementary schoolers.
  • Starting this fall, schools must provide at least eight hours of AI instruction per year, either as a stand-alone subject or integrated into existing courses.
  • Elementary students will get hands-on AI lessons, while middle and high schoolers will focus on AI applications and innovation.
  • The initiative ai

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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