TOKYO (AP) Nissan Motor Corp. reported Monday that it returned to profit in the first quarter of the year, helped by cost cutting measures and improved sales in some markets.
Nissan, based in the port city of Yokohama, said it recorded a 3.8 billion yen ($24 million) net profit January-March, a reversal from the 115.8 billion yen loss it racked up in the same period of 2025.
Quarterly sales totaled 2.96 trillion yen ($19 billion), up 9.5% from 2.7 trillion yen a year earlier.
Nissan has been in the red for the last two fiscal years, posting billions of dollars in losses , but its leadership has promised to return it to profit in this fiscal year, which ends in March 2027.
Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa told reporters cost reduction efforts were gaining momentum. But difficulties remain in some global markets like the Middle East, while sales were growing in the U.S. and Japan, he said.
We are managing disruption where it exists, building momentum where we see opportunity, Espinosa said.
The war in Iran has recently effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Japans exports to the Middle East.
Nissans sales have suffered in China because of fierce competition from Chinese automakers that have taken the lead in electrification.
The maker of Leaf electric vehicles and Infiniti luxury models lowered its annual sales projection to 3.15 million vehicles, on a par with the year before and down from an earlier forecast of 3.3 million units, largely because of the problems in China.
Nissan is allied with Renault SA of France and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. of Japan and also has a partnership with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. , sharing technology and some parts.
Espinosa said production lines were partially stalled due to the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto , southwestern Japan, last week. But no employees were hurt and no facilities, including those of Nissans partners, were damaged.
The disruption is expected to last until Wednesday and affect 5,000 vehicles, he said.
In the U.S., Japanese automakers are dealing with the negative impact from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump . After negotiations the tariffs were lowered to 15% from an initial 27.5% rate. They remain higher than earlier 2.5% rate.
Higher material costs are another challenge.
Nissan stuck to its earlier forecasts for a 20 billion yen ($127 million) profit on 13 trillion yen ($83 billion) in sales in this fiscal year.
Our focus is unchanged: Creating value for customers, improving profitability and free cash flow, and building a stronger, more resilient Nissan for the long term, Espinosa said.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:
东京（美联社）——日产汽车公司周一报告称，得益于成本削减措施及部分市场销量提升，该公司在今年第一季度实现扭亏为盈。
总部位于横滨港市的日产汽车表示，其在1月至3月期间实现了38亿日元（约合2400万美元）的净利润，与2025年同期1158亿日元的亏损相比实现扭亏为盈。
季度销售额总计达2.96万亿日元（约合190亿美元），较上年同期的2.7万亿日元增长9.5%。
日产汽车过去两个财年持续亏损，累计损失达数十亿美元，但公司管理层承诺将在2027年3月结束的本财年实现扭亏为盈。
首席执行官伊万·埃斯皮诺萨向记者表示，成本削减措施正在取得进展。但他指出，中东等部分全球市场仍存在困难，而美国和日本的销售额则呈现增长态势。
埃斯皮诺萨表示："我们正在应对现有的混乱局面，并在发现机遇的地方积聚发展势头。"
伊朗战争近期导致霍尔木兹海峡实际关闭，该海峡是日本向中东出口的关键通道。
由于中国汽车制造商在电动化领域占据领先地位，日产汽车在中国的销量受到了激烈竞争的冲击。
日产汽车公司（旗下拥有聆风电动车和英菲尼迪豪华车型）将年度销量预期下调至315万辆，与去年持平，较此前预测的330万辆有所减少，主要原因是中国市场的问题。
日产汽车与法国雷诺公司及日本三菱汽车结盟，同时与日本竞争对手本田汽车公司达成合作伙伴关系，双方共享技术与部分零部件。
埃斯皮诺萨表示，由于上周日本西南部熊本县发生的7.1级地震，部分生产线暂时停工。但无员工受伤，包括日产合作伙伴在内的所有设施均未受损。
他表示，此次中断预计将持续至周三，并将影响5000辆汽车。
在美国，日本汽车制造商正承受着唐纳德·特朗普总统加征关税带来的负面影响。经过谈判，关税税率从最初的27.5%降至15%，但仍高于此前2.5%的水平。
原材料成本上涨是另一项挑战。
日产汽车维持此前对本财年的业绩预测，预计销售额将达到13万亿日元（约合830亿美元），利润为200亿日元（约合1.27亿美元）。
埃斯皮诺萨表示：“我们的目标始终如一：为客户创造价值，提升盈利能力和自由现金流，并打造一个更强大、更具韧性的日产，以实现长远发展。”
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