Nissan Australia replaces managing director

Nissan Oceania will have a new boss from April 2026, after Andrew Humberstone was confirmed to be returning to Nissan in Europe after two years in the top job locally.

Mr Humberstone, who has been managing director of Nissan Oceania since April 2024, will be replaced by Steve Milette, effective April 1, 2026.

Mr Milette is currently Nissan North America’s division vice president for dealer network development, customer resources, training and customer experience. He previously headed up Nissan’s Canadian division for more than five years.

It’s yet another leadership change across the Australian car industry, with new bosses at MG, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Ford in 2026.

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Mr Humberstone’s new role in Europe hasn’t been specified, with a statement from the company saying he will take up a “senior role” at Nissan’s regional headquarters in Paris, France.

When Mr Humberstone arrived in Australia in 2024 to lead Nissan’s Oceania operations – which include the Dandenong casting plant and the New Zealand business – the brand had just posted 48.6 per cent sales growth in 2023, led by strong sales of the recently introduced X-Trail SUV.

The outgoing chief has overseen the rollout of the brand’s e-Power hybrid technology following its 2022 introduction, as well as the extension of the local Warrior program for the Navara and Patrol in partnership with Melbourne-based Premcar.

Challenges for Nissan globally, however, have also impacted the brand in Australia, with leadership upheaval overseas coming as the automaker faces significant financial pressures and resultant slower-than-expected product development.

Nissan’s growth slowed to 15 per cent in 2024 and, while it outperformed the overall market’s 0.3 per cent increase, it came as Toyota set an all-time Australian sales record.

In 2025, Nissan Australia posted a 21.6 per cent drop in sales and dropped out of the top 10, finishing in 12th position. The Japanese automaker also fell outside the top 10 globally to the end of June.

While a facelift of the volume-selling X-Trail is due in Australia before April, the current-generation model has been on sale here for four years, as has the smaller Qashqai SUV. Both face increasing competition from fresher rivals and a growing number of brands entering the local market.

The new-generation Navara, a rebadged Triton from Alliance partner Mitsubishi, arrives in showrooms early this year. It comes not a moment too soon, given the outgoing generation was outsold last year by not only established ute nameplates but also newer entrants like the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon.

The Pathfinder SUV was the only Nissan model to record higher sales locally last year (up 40 per cent), though its total of 732 units was comfortably eclipsed by other large SUVs including the discontinued Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Nissan Australia belatedly introduced the Ariya electric SUV locally last year, with Mr Humberstone admitting its launch was forced by the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) regulations that came into effect on January 1, 2025.

The Ariya’s repeatedly delayed arrival came almost three years after its US-market launch, with the model coincidentally dropped from the US lineup within days of its Australian debut as it faced headwinds in that market.

In 2026, alongside the facelifted X-Trail, Nissan is set to launch an updated Qashqai e-Power, but the axing of purely petrol-powered versions of the small SUV has resulted in a base price more than $10,000 higher than before.

Nissan will also add the new-generation Leaf electric vehicle (EV) later this year, as well as the Y63 Patrol SUV which has been on sale in other markets since late 2024.

Alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi are also facing local challenges, with Renault posting a 17.8 per cent year-on-year sales decline and Mitsubishi recording a 17.9 per cent fall in 2025.

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