Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa’s Daily Driver Is a Fairlady Z? – A True Car Guy’s Mission to Revive Sports Cars

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On April 1, 2025, Ivan Espinosa officially took over as President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Born in Mexico and now 46 years old, Espinosa is more than a business executive—he is widely known as a true “car guy” with a lifelong passion for automobiles.

A mechanical engineering graduate of Tecnológico de Monterrey, Espinosa joined Nissan in 2003 and rose through the ranks, leading global product planning, program management, and overseeing divisions like NISMO and motorsports. His passion, however, extends far beyond the boardroom.

Espinosa often speaks of the Z32-generation Fairlady Z (300ZX) as his “heartbeat model.” As a teenager in Mexico, seeing the Z32 for the first time changed how he saw Nissan: “The clean yet powerful design, the projector headlights—I had never seen anything like it. And when I opened the door, I was blown away. That moment changed my perspective on the brand forever,” he recalls.

That emotional connection came full circle decades later. Espinosa was directly involved in the development of the current-generation Fairlady Z (RZ34), working closely with key figures such as chief engineer Hiroshi Tamura and global design head Alfonso Albaisa. For Espinosa, it was the fulfillment of a childhood dream: “I actually helped build the car I once admired. It’s incredibly personal.”

What makes this story even more compelling is that Espinosa was seen commuting in a left-hand drive RZ34 Fairlady Z—his daily driver. A CEO who drives and cherishes the company’s sports car is rare, and it highlights Nissan’s commitment to preserving driving excitement.

Espinosa believes that iconic models like the Z and GT-R offer more than sales numbers: “They spark passion, inspire employees, and represent the soul of the brand. Their value goes beyond profitability. Continuing these cars is, in a way, a challenge I set for myself.”

Coming from a family of engineers, Espinosa grew up wrenching on cars with his father every weekend. From replacing brake pads and spark plugs to suspensions, cars were always a part of his life. That upbringing laid the foundation for his career and deep emotional bond with automobiles.

Now, as Nissan enters a new chapter, the return of enthusiast-driven cars may be more than a hope—it might be a mission. With a CEO whose heart beats in sync with the Z, Nissan’s revival may be powered not just by business strategy, but by the raw emotion of a car lover who never forgot what inspired him in the first place.