By Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink and Norihiko Shirouzu TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Nissan will unveil a shake-up in its top ranks next month, three people familiar with the matter said on Thursday, adding that embattled CEO Makoto Uchida is currently expected to hang on to his job.

It seemed like an extraordinary display of patriotism and unity: Japan’s biggest companies would come together to save their own, whether ailing carmaker Nissan Motor Co. or besieged convenience store giant Seven & i Holdings Co.

Nissan Motor is expected to announce a planned streamlining of its executive line-up on March 12, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Fitch Ratings said on Wednesday it has downgraded Nissan Motor's rating to junk-status BB+ from BBB-, referring to the Japanese automaker's "persistently low profitability, with a delayed recovery trajectory against our expectations".

After an oil change, a woman found a racial slur printed on the sticker inside her SUV. Now, she’s getting a free electric vehicle. A Nissan dealer nearly 900 miles away is gifting her a free LEAF EV, saying she won’t need an oil change ever again. The electric car was specifically chosen so the shocking incident doesn’t happen again.

For enthusiasts who have been holding off on buying a Nissan Z due to outrageous dealer markups, the wait has finally paid off. After years of excessive pricing, dealerships across the U.S. are now offering the 400-horsepower coupe well below its sticker price.