• Nissan ends participation in LGBTQ+ surveys and events, citing a focus on neutrality.
  • It will no longer mandate diversity training unrelated to core business goals.
  • The Japanese company had previously touted the importance of its DEI initiatives.

Nissan has decided to significantly reduce its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in its US operations, becoming the latest in a slew of companies across the country to make similar changes. In August, Ford scaled back some of its DEI initiatives following mounting pressure from individuals attempting to eradicate “wokeness” from corporate America, including online influencer Robby Starbuck.

According to Bloomberg, Starbuck stated that he had engaged with Nissan prior to the announcement, following a pattern similar to recent negotiations with Walmart and Caterpillar Inc.

As a result, the Japanese brand recently informed local employees it would stop participating in surveys and activities from outside organizations aimed at political activism. One of these is the Human Rights Campaign’s annual survey that evaluates over 1,300 companies on their equality measures for LGBTQ+ people. This is the same survey that Ford will no longer participate in.

Read: Why Ford Is Scaling Back Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives

Nissan Relents And Winds Back Diversity Efforts In Policy Shake-Up
A section from Nissan’s Integrated Report and new sustainability plan from July, 2024

Nissan will also review future funding of events and discontinue financial support for Pride events in the States. Opportunities for growth for employees, suppliers, and other partners will also be based on merit, performance, and results, meaning there will be no quotas for hiring, promotions, or the selection of suppliers that work with Nissan. The company has also committed to ditching obligatory DEI and LGBTQ+ training and will only require training related to the brand’s core business.

The influencer said he was particularly proud of convincing Nissan to change policies as he lives in Tennessee, and Nissan is one of the state’s biggest employers.

Nissan Relents And Winds Back Diversity Efforts In Policy Shake-Up

“Our campaigns are now so effective that we’re getting the biggest companies on earth to change their policies without me even posting a story outlining their woke policies,” Starbuck wrote on X. “Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are the trend, not the anomaly anymore.”

As recently as 2023, Nissan Americas chairman Jeremie Papin touted the strength of the company’s DEI efforts, saying, “While other companies may shy away from DEI, it is front and center at Nissan, starting on an employee’s very first day.” How quickly things can change.