As part of measures to enhance competitiveness and profitability, members of one of the world’s leading automotive alliances, Groupe Renault, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation on Wednesday announced several initiatives.
Under the arrangement, member companies plan to build on existing Alliance benefits in areas such as joint purchasing by leveraging their respective leadership positions and geographic strengths to support their partners’ business development.
A statement explained that the three companies have endorsed the principles of the leader-follower scheme for vehicles which is expected to deliver model investment reductions of up to 40 percent for vehicles fully under the scheme.
The Alliance also endorsed the principle of naming different parts of the world as “reference regions,” with each company focusing on its core regions with the aim to be among the most competitive and to serve as a reference for the others to enhance their competitiveness.
Under this part of the scheme, Nissan will be the reference for China, North America and Japan; Renault in Europe, Russia, South America and North Africa; and Mitsubishi Motors in ASEAN and Oceania.
“The Alliance is a unique strategic and operational partnership in the automotive world and gives us a strong edge in the ever-changing global automotive landscape,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, Chairman of the Alliance Operating Board and Renault.
He further added, “The new business model will enable the Alliance to bring out the most of each company’s assets and performing capabilities, while building on their respective cultures and legacies. The three companies of the Alliance will cover all vehicle segments and technologies, across all geographies, for the benefit of every customer, while increasing their respective competitiveness, sustainable profitability and social and environmental responsibility.”
Close to 50 percent of Alliance models will be developed and produced under the leader-follower scheme by 2025.
For instance, the renewal of the C-SUV segment post-2025 will be led by Nissan, while the future renewal of the BSUV segment in Europe will be led by Renault.
Meanwhile, in Latin America, the B-product platforms will be rationalized, evolving from four variants to only one for both Renault and Nissan products. This platform will be produced in two plants each producing for both Renault and Nissan.
In Southeast Asia and Japan, Alliance members will pursue select opportunities under the same scheme, such as the Kei car collaboration between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.
In terms of technical efficiency, the leader-follower scheme will be extended from platforms and powertrains to all key technologies. Autonomous driving will be led by Nissan whereas for connected-car technologies, Renault to lead the Android-based platform and Nissan in China.
E-body, the core system of the electric-electronic architecture will be headed by Renault as well as e-PowerTrain (ePT) and CMF-A/B ePT. PHEV technology lies in the domain of Mitsubishi.
