Executive Summary:"The crisis currently facing Nissan Motor Corporation is not merely a slump in performance. It is a structural and ontological challenge that has emerged at the intersection of the shadows of past successes and the once-in-a-century wave of great transformation sweeping through the automotive industry. This report thoroughly compares and analyzes the current mid-term management plan 'The Arc' with the 'Nissan Revival Plan (NRP)' previously led by former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, evaluating Nissan's potential for revival and proposing concrete strategies for its survival.

In conclusion, while the new management plan 'The Arc' is an inevitable response to the failure of the expansion strategy post-Ghosn era, it is insufficient to secure Nissan's long-term competitiveness in today's fundamentally transformed automotive industry competitive environment. The success of the NRP during the Ghosn era was heavily dependent on the business environment at the time, and ironically, its methods created the long-term vulnerabilities that plague the company today. Therefore, the likelihood of 'The Arc' succeeding in its current form must be evaluated as low.

For Nissan to truly survive, a more drastic strategic shift is essential, going beyond merely achieving the goals of 'The Arc'. As a prescription for this, this report proposes the following four pillars:

• Fundamental reform of Research and Development (R&D) and product philosophy: From 'balance' to 'prominence'.
• Thorough reform of corporate culture and organization: Rewiring for speed management.
• Redefinition of alliance strategy: From heavy and bulky to agile creation.
• Pioneering new business models: From selling iron to selling services.

Nissan is now being tested on whether it has the courage to break away from its past glory and undergo a major, future-defining operation. The time remaining for this choice is extremely short."