KEY TAKEAWAYS Japanese automaker Nissan Motor said Tuesday it is replacing CEO Makoto Uchida with Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa, a month after its merger plan with rival Honda Motor collapsed.Nissan said Espinosa will take the helm on April 1.

Effective April 1, the board of directors has approved titles and areas of responsibility for the representative executive officer and executive officers. Ivan Espinosa, currently the chief planning officer, has been appointed as the representative executive officer, president, and CEO, succeeding Makoto Uchida.

When news broke of official merger talks between Honda and Nissan came to light earlier this year, it seemed like there was relief on the horizon for the latter carmaker. It's no secret that the Yokohama,