Renault and Nissan are considering rebuilding their 26-year-old alliance as management changes and Nissan's deep financial problems prompt a reassessment of the partnership, the Financial Times reports.
Former Renault CEO Luca Demeo insisted on selling Renault's stake in Nissan after relations deteriorated following the arrest of Carlos Ghosn in 2018, but his departure reopened discussions about strengthening cooperation. The 2023 restructuring provided for a reduction in Renault's share from 43% to 10%, but the fall in Nissan shares, Demeo's insistence on bonuses and the write-off of 9.5 billion euros made the sale difficult.
With Nissan's share price declining by 25% amid factory closures and 20,000 job cuts, Renault's new CEO Francois Provost, who is a vocal supporter of the partnership, is reviewing the strategic value of the alliance, emphasizing the advantages of scale over Stellantis and Mercedes—Benz. The new head of Renault and Nissan, Ivan Espinosa, holds regular talks, relying on joint projects such as the restructuring of the Indian joint venture, the Nissan electric car model based on the Renault Twingo platform and the expansion of cooperation with Geely.
