Renault and Nissan said on Monday they are in talks about the future of their alliance, which includes the Japanese automaker’s interest in investing in a new electric vehicle venture of its French partner.
Renault , which currently owns 43% of Nissan ‘s capital, could reduce its stake in the Japanese automaker to 15% in exchange for the latter’s entry into the new electrical entity “Ampère”, in which it hopes to retain control, according to reports. of press.
The talks, which could spark the biggest reshuffle in the alliance since the arrest of veteran executive Carlos Ghosn in 2018, have included consideration of Renault selling part of its Nissan stake, two people with knowledge of the talks said.
Questioned by AFP, Renault declined to comment.
“Renault could reduce its share to just 15% of Nissan,” says Les Echos dimanche. ” An amount that would be a symbol of a new balance with its Japanese partner , which owns just 15% of Renault. Logically, Nissan could enter at a level of 15% in the new Ampère company, whose exact value has yet to be determined.”
According to Les Echos, Renault, in which the French state owns 15% of the capital, could recover “up to 4 billion euros” from the sale of its Nissan shares .
At the end of 2018, when the relationship already seemed unbalanced between Renault and Nissan in favor of the French group in the alliance that the three companies form with Mitsubishi Motors, the fall of leader Carlos Ghosn caused a serious crisis of trust between both partners.
This deal could make it easier for Nissan to reduce the influence of Renault, which it has long sought.
With information from AFP and Reuters
