Makoto Uchida takes stock of the current discussions with the French manufacturer to thwart rumors of a possible failure. They will not be completed the day Renault must make announcements on its reorganization, but they advance.
Le Monde
It has been a long time since we had heard a leader of Nissan speak with as much enthusiasm and superlatives of his counterparts at Renault. Friday, November 4, Makoto Uchida, the CEO of the third Japanese manufacturer, wanted to express themselves in front of some French journalists to make a point on the progress of the discussions he leads with Renault and Mitsubishi in order to “bring the Alliance [between the three manufacturers] towards a new era “.
On several occasions, he insisted on the quality of his discussions with “Luca and Mr. Senard”, namely Luca de Meo, the director general of Renault, and Jean-Dominique Senard, the chairman of the board of directors from the diamond brand. “I am very happy and very proud of the relationship we have at the level of the general management: I pick up my phone and I speak [to Luca de Meo] every time,” insists Mr.uchida. It happens to him every week, almost every two to three days.
The leaders of Renault, who also welcome the improvement of the quality of their relations with Nissan, would undoubtedly have preferred that these discussions, started before summer, lead by Tuesday, November 8, day of The detailed presentation of their reorganization plan for the financial markets during a capital Market Day.
But they are forced to be patient. “We have a lot to solve, I would not say that these are easy discussions, but we will get there,” reassures Makoto Uchida, who welcomes the “state of mind” of exchanges. However, he gives no maturity, not even the date of November 15, the day when the boards of directors of the three manufacturers will meet in Yokohama, headquarters of Nissan. “The contents mature, it must be robust,” he explains.
“We too have a Chinese partner”
He confirmed the three discussion points in progress: first point, “Nissan’s participation in the company in which Renault will bring together his activities in the electric car”; Second point, “a symbolic project, which will show that we want to raise the alliance and make it even more competitive”; And, finally, third point, “the definition of a governance [of the alliance], which would allow it to be faster, which goes through a partnership with equality”.
He was reassuring that Nissan would not oppose the entry of a Chinese partner, in this case the Geely group, in the capital of the Renault thermal motors subsidiary, while Rumors mention that this could end the alliance: “We too have a Chinese partner, the important thing is transparency.” He nevertheless negotiates the use of patents.
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