Nissan GB has announced the appointment of James Taylor as its new managing director. Taylor, an experienced automotive leader, joins Nissan ahead of major new product launches in 2025, including the all-new MICRA EV, the new LEAF EV and the next generation of the Qashqai e-POWER hybrid.

Taylor brings more than 20 years of automotive experience, most recently as managing director at Vauxhall Motors Ltd. He will report to Mayra González, divisional vice president for marketing and sales at Nissan Europe.

Taylor said: “These are very dynamic times for the automotive industry so now, more than ever, we need to be agile and responsive to business needs and customer demands. Nissan already makes two of the UK’s top-selling cars, has exciting new products on the way and is a brand with real momentum. I look forward to working with the Nissan team, its dealer partners, and other stakeholders to navigate current industry challenges and build the business for sustainable future success.”

Taylor’s career has included roles at Vauxhall in market analysis, sales operations, fleet sales and marketing, and a stint at Stellantis as B2B director before returning to Vauxhall as managing director.

Mayra González added: “We are happy to welcome James to the UK team and congratulate him on this appointment. 2025 is a hugely important year for Nissan’s largest European market and his experience will be invaluable as we strengthen our operations, accelerate our electrification plans, and evolve our network strategy to better serve our customers and support our dealers.”

Taylor succeeds Diana Torres as managing director and will officially take up the role from 1st May 2025.

Nissan’s product plans include four new electric models over the next two years, starting with the new MICRA and LEAF in 2025, followed by an all-new Juke EV and a new city car from FY2026.