Nissan Motor, which plans to spend US$2.2 billion on a one-third controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors, aims to place its former global technical chief in charge of reform at its smaller rival, which is mired in a fuel economy data scandal, a media report said.
Citing two individuals with knowledge of the matter, Reuters said Nissan and Mitsubishi are in final stage talks over the appointment of Mitsuhiko Yamashita as Mitsubishi's technical chief. Yamashita was Nissan's executive vice president in charge of product and technology research and development until 2014, a position he had held since 2005.
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A Mitsubishi spokesman declined to comment to the news agency.
Reuters said the likely appointment of Yamashita as Mitsubishi tech chief, which might be finalised at an emergency board meeting at Mitsubishi on Wednesday, comes as part of Nissan's investment in the automaker.
With a 34% stake in Mitsubishi, Nissan will be able to nominate a third of the company's board.
Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn has said he believed Mitsubishi would be led by a Nissan executive, prompting industry analysts and bankers to forecast a significant reshuffle at the top.
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By GlobalDataMitsubishi is reeling from a third scandal in two decades and has seen $3bn wiped off its market value after admitting last month it overstated the fuel economy of at least four of its models in Japan, including two sold under Nissan's badge.
