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Carlos Ghosn appears in court: 'I am wrongly accused'

TOKYO — Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn told a Tokyo court on Tuesday that he was innocent, defending his honor in his first public appearance since he was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with false financial reporting. "Your honor, I am innocent of the accusations against me," Ghosn told the judge, speaking firmly and calmly as he read from a statement. "I am wrongfully accused." Prosecutors have charged Ghosn, who led a dramatic turnaround at the Japanese automaker over the past two decades, with falsifying financial reports in underreporting his income by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) over five years through 2015. They also say he is suspected of having Nissan temporarily take on his investment losses from the financial crisis. Seen for the first time since his November arrest, Ghosn was wearing a dark suit without a tie, and plastic slippers, and looked thinner and with gray hair. He rebutted the allegations against him point-by-point and said he had the option to leave Nissan but had decided to stay on. "A captain doesn't jump ship during a storm," he told the court in a strong voice. The veteran auto executive, a familiar face at the World Economic Forum and other elite gatherings, was handcuffed and led into the courtroom with a rope around his waist as the hearing began. Officers uncuffed him and seated him on a bench. Presiding judge Yuichi Tada then read out the charges and said Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, was considered a flight risk — he was arrested on his arrival in Tokyo by private jet — and might try to hide evidence. In Japan, suspects are routinely held without bail, often due to fears about evidence tampering. During Tuesday's hearing, Go Kondo, one of Ghosn's lawyers, argued he was not a flight risk. "He's widely known so it's difficult for him to escape. There is no risk that the suspect will destroy evidence," he said. Facing the courtroom, Ghosn spoke proudly of the automaker's — and his own — achievements, such as reviving iconic models like the GT-R and the Z, expanding operations in China, Russia, Brazil and India and pioneering electric cars and autonomous driving. "I have a genuine love and appreciation for Nissan," he said. Ghosn has been held in spartan conditions at a Tokyo detention facility since he was taken into custody. In keeping with Japanese regulations, he has been allowed visits only from his lawyers and consular officials.

Ghosn: 'While I'm proud of our EV leadership, I know it's not enough.'

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has written something like a State of the Union on electric vehicles and the carbon economy. We'd sum it up as, 'we're working on it but we all need to work harder.' Ghosn believes all of the commitments made at the Paris COP21 climate change conference are a start, but "the support of the business community is imperative," in coordination with the public sector. He stresses that he's after an "orderly transition," one that uses what we have now in order to go where many believe we need to go. That means no threats or revolution, no "aggressive government intervention and centralized demand and control," but rather a "practical, affordable way to begin reducing dependence" on the fuel that turns the skies brown. Ghosn wraps up his manifesto this way: "The UN Secretary General recently said that we are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change and the last to be able to do anything to stop it. This is a call to action, and the auto industry is committed to doing its part." Based on the undeniable shift toward the electrification of the automobile, we know that the call is being answered. Given the limited market share EVs have today, it could still use some more people and companies picking up the phone. With vehicle numbers expected to grow from 800 million to more than two billion by 2050, "transition will occur one way or another," Ghosn writes. Head over to Forbes to read Ghosn's thoughts.

Hyundai Tucson Adventuremobile ready for camping at SEMA

A troop of customized 2016 Hyundai Tucsons will be making their way to the company's SEMA Show display in Las Vegas, NV, this year, and now there'll be one more in attendance, too. Joining hardcore offroad and high-horsepower takes on the crossover is the Adventuremobile from tuner John Pangilinan for those that love the outdoors but still need a vehicle to commute to work during the week. The Adventuremobile has everything for a camping excursion. There's no worry about where to rest in the wilderness thanks to a roof-mounted tent that sleeps two, and solar panels keep electronics topped up. An LED light bar should mean no problems finding the perfect spot, either. Even the cabin is a comfy place for a drive to the campsite with an upgraded stereo and Katzkin leather upholstery. The crossover looks rugged thanks to a coat of army green paint, but this tuned Tucson keeps the rest of the mods fairly realistic for the average adventurer. For a little added ability offroad, there's a 1.5-inch suspension lift and Toyo Open Country A/T II tires on some Rays wheels. The powertrain also gets some small tweaks with some new plumbing by AEM and a Magnaflow exhaust. The whole package seems like a great tool for spending a weekend in the woods. JOHN PANGILINAN CREATES TUCSON ADVENTUREMOBILE FOR SEMA FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 19, 2015 – John Pangilinan, the renowned Southern California tuner known for creating vehicles that blur the lines between lifestyle and automotive, has released details on his 2016 Tucson SEMA build. Dubbed the "Adventuremobile," the vehicle blends Hyundai's new crossover platform with a passion for the great outdoors, perfect for the weekend getaway. The car will be revealed at Hyundai's SEMA press conference on November 3 at 11:30 a.m. PT, in Las Vegas. The "Adventuremobile" is just as home on the daily commute as it is lugging gear up into the mountains for the weekend out of town. Most obvious is the addition of a Treeline Tamarack roof-top tent, with ample room to sleep two campers, and Goal Zero solar panels to power all of their accessories. The exterior has been beefed up with the addition of an Aries bull bar and side steps, Rigid Industries LED lights, and the vehicle has been finished in a BASF army green paint scheme by Strasse Sport. A custom 1.5-in.