Christian Meunier took the helm of Nissan’s Americas division last year amid slipping sales, strained dealer ties and a scandal that saw former CEO arrested and flee. He inherited a business that had been losing ground for years. In May, U.S. sales rose 12% year‑over‑year, a rare lift in a tough market.

Meunier is betting on a U.S. resurgence for Nissan’s hybrid models and on expanding domestic production to cut costs. He also plans to overhaul the luxury Infiniti brand, whose lineup is thin after a stalled Honda merger. Yet overall Nissan sales remain 35% below the 2014 level, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

The comeback hinges on delivering more attractive hybrids, increasing U.S. output and refreshing Infiniti with new models. If Meunier can sustain the momentum that lifted May sales, Nissan could reverse a decade‑long decline and restore dealer confidence. The automaker’s next quarterly report will reveal whether the strategy is taking hold.

Investors are watching the cost curve closely; higher U.S. content should improve margins while the Infiniti refresh aims to capture premium buyers. Analysts note a steady climb in U.S. sales could soften a weak global EV market, giving Nissan breathing room to fund next‑generation technology.