Nissan GT-R Production Ends in Japan

The order books for the R35-generation Nissan GT-R have officially closed in Japan, marking the end of an era for the iconic sports car. With no replacement in sight and Nissan's shaky financials, this might be the final goodbye for the GT-R, also known as 'Godzilla.' The GT-R has had a long history, with a 13-year pause between the 'Kenmeri' GT-R of 1973 and the R32-chassis GT-R of 1989.

The R35 chassis is now old enough to qualify for import into Canada under the country's 15-year rules, and Nissan has tweaked the car over its production run with many special editions. However, the company's current financial situation, including the end of merger talks with Honda, does not look promising. Nissan has confirmed that there will be a next generation of both the GT-R and the Z, but the financial picture for the company is now more dire.

Nissan's CEO May Step Down

Meanwhile, Nissan's CEO Makoto Uchida may step down as soon as next week when the board of directors picks his successor. The company's nomination committee met on March 6 to select a candidate, and rumors about Uchida's departure began circulating after the merger deal with Honda collapsed. Potential successors include Nissan Chief Financial Officer Jeremie Papin and Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa, but there is no clear favorite yet.

Nissan is struggling right now, with declining revenues, higher costs, and increasing competition putting the company's future in doubt. The company has taken drastic action in the last year to rectify its problems, including layoffs, cutting global production, and continuing to look for new investment and potential partners.