Nissan has stepped up contingency planning for a possible split from Renault, according to the Financial Times, which cited people familiar with the matter.

Nissan is looking for its third CEO in as many years. Following the resignation of Hiroto Saikawa after a scandal over pay, the Japanese automaker’s board needs to find a leader who can guide the company through decade-low profits and job cuts as car sales slow globally.

Nissan Motor Co. CEO Hiroto Saikawa will slash some 12,500 jobs worldwide as part of new plan to revive the company after reporting a 99 percent plunge in operating profit in the latest quarter on falling sales in every major market except China.

Nissan Motor will pull the cover off its new Leaf EV on Sept. 6 in Japan, its first production vehicle that will steer and stop by itself, at least every once in a while.