Nissan seeks tech tie-up without Renault as alliance nears end of road
Send a link to a friend
[April 14, 2023] By
Norihiko Shirouzu and Maki Shiraki
(Reuters) - Nissan is developing growth plans in areas such as software
and electric vehicles (EVs) independent of Renault SA as the automakers
work to finalise terms of a sharply limited alliance, said seven people
with knowledge of the matter.
Japan's third-biggest automaker by sales is seeking a partner outside
the auto industry to develop software that connects vehicles to
cloud-based services, two people involved in discussions said, without
elaborating on candidates. That would address a relative weakness for
Nissan as it tries to make cars "smarter and more connected", one of the
people said.
It is also working on an expanded strategy for all-battery and plug-in
EVs for North American and Asian markets that will be for Nissan alone,
they said.
The revelations come as the alliance oversight board met this week to
discuss a rebalance that will see Renault cut its stake in Nissan to 15%
from 43% - matching the size of Nissan's stake in Renault - and Nissan
gain reciprocal voting rights.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Apr/14/images/ads/current/LPL_small%201.gif)
Under the deal, to be finalised by mid-year, Nissan will also invest in
the French automaker's new Ampere EV business.
Imbalance had long riled Nissan executives who complained Renault did
not pay its fair share of costs for innovation and development. Nissan's
emerging strategy reflects a belief within the automaker that the
23-year-old alliance has run its course for many of the biggest
challenges it faces, the people said.
While Nissan sees continued savings in shared parts procurement with
Renault, it has no plan to provide engineering support to Ampere, said
two of the people, who all asked not to be identified because talks
between the pair are ongoing.
It also has no plan to provide its e-Power hybrid technology to a
gasoline powertrain-focused joint venture Renault has with China's
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd and Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co JSC,
two of the people said.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Apr/14/images/ads/current/elkhartgrain_sda_SFARM_2023.png)
GOING SOLO
Such go-it-alone thinking is shaping a longer-term plan that could be
announced by year-end focusing on improved operational performance,
electrification and software allowing self-driving and other "connected
car" features, one of the people said.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/041423PIX/busine49.jpg)
The logos of car manufacturers Nissan
and Renault are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in
Saint-Nazaire, France, Feb. 6, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File
Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jul/22/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
"Even if Renault gets something from Nissan, benefits moving in the
other direction are hard," a second person with knowledge of
Nissan's stance said. "The restrictions from Renault are gone, and
we can move freely."
In a joint statement to Reuters, Nissan and Renault said they were
working toward final partnership terms that would make them more
competitive. They said they planned to detail already-announced
cooperative projects for India and Latin America.
"The new structure enables faster and more flexible decision
making," the pair said in the statement.
They said, without elaborating, investing in Ampere would strengthen
Nissan in Europe and "accelerate new business".
Nissan will invest and provide technology for the venture but will
limit its operational involvement, one of the people told Reuters.
If Ampere developed technology of interest for Europe, Nissan would
look to buy it separately, the person said.
GHOSN'S VISION GONE
The stance marks a hard stop for the vision of Carlos Ghosn, who
formerly headed both Renault and Nissan and pushed deeper
integration over the objections of some Nissan executives.
Ghosn was arrested in 2018 in Tokyo on charges of financial
misconduct, and said his detention was part of a plot by Nissan
executives to block a merger. He fled to Lebanon in late 2019 while
awaiting trial and has since been living as a fugitive.
In rebalancing talks, Nissan has pushed for protection of its
technology to limit any downside from continued partnership, people
involved have said. Among technology Nissan wants to protect is its
work on solid-state lithium-ion battery making and its e-Power
electric hybrid powertrain, the people said.
Some executives said the alliance talks' best outcome would have
been a "zero percent, zero percent" equity tie-up - a goal they knew
was unreachable but floated to drive home the point that Nissan
needed to move on its own, the people said.
(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu and Maki Shiraki; Additional
reporting by Gilles Guillaume in Paris and Daniel Leussink in Tokyo;
Editing by Christopher Cushing)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |