When in 1999 French Renault and Japanese Nissan announced the creation of a strategic alliance, few believed in its success. Two companies with different corporate cultures, histories and approaches to business - what could go wrong? But just over two decades have passed, and this union has become one of the most successful in the auto industry, surviving crises, scandals and even a pandemic. Today Nissan-Renault concern (officially - Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance) ranks fourth in the world in terms of sales volumes, second only to Toyota, Volkswagen Group And Hyundai-Kia.

In this article we will look at how relationships between brands were built, what key models appeared thanks to the alliance, and what awaits the concern in the era of electric vehicles and autonomous driving. You will learn about unique cross-ownership system (cross-ownership of shares), which made the alliance unusually strong, and also why the scandal with Carlos Ghosn became a turning point for the entire group. If you are considering purchasing a car from Nissan or Renault, or are simply interested in the auto industry - this material will help you understand the intricacies of one of the most ambitious projects of our time.

How the Nissan-Renault alliance came to be: from crisis to success

By the end of the 1990s Nissan was on the verge of bankruptcy: debts exceeded 20 billion dollars, and the company's market share in Japan was declining every year. French Renault, in turn, was looking for opportunities for global expansion, but did not have sufficient experience in Asian markets. The idea of unification came from the then head Renault Louis Schweitzer, who saw in Nissan potential for recovery.

In 1999, the parties signed an agreement: Renault purchased 36.8% shares Nissan for $5.4 billion, and the Japanese company received a similar stake in the French automaker (though without voting rights). The key condition was the appointment Carlos Ghosn — a Brazilian with Lebanese roots — for the post of CEO Nissan. Ghosn, formerly of Michelin And Renault, developed by the famous Nissan Revival Plan (revival plan), which included:

  • 🔧 Closing of 5 factories and layoffs 21,000 jobs (about 14% state)
  • 💰 Debt reduction by 50% in 18 months
  • 🚗 Cease production of 12 ineffective models
  • 📈 Increase in operating margin to 4.5% by 2002

The results exceeded all expectations: by 2001 Nissan emerged from the crisis, and by 2005 became the most profitable Japanese automaker. The success of the alliance led to expansion - in 2016 it joined Mitsubishi Motors, having formed Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance with total sales of more than 10 million cars per year.

📊 How do you feel about the merger of automakers?
  • Positive - it strengthens its position in the market
  • Negative - the uniqueness of brands is lost
  • Neutral - the main thing is that the cars get better
  • It's hard to say, I don't follow it

Cross-ownership: how the share ownership system works

One of the unique features of the alliance is cross-shareholding system (cross-overship). Today the structure looks like this:

Company Owner Share (%) Voting rights
Renault Nissan 15.0 Yes
Nissan Renault 43.4 No (limited by agreement)
Mitsubishi Motors Nissan 34.0 Yes
Renault French state 15.0 Yes

This structure creates de facto "vicious circle": Renault controls Nissan, but he himself depends on the Japanese partner through his share in the equity capital. This leads to interesting consequences:

  • 🔄 Mutual dependence: Neither party can make a key decision without agreement with the partner.
  • 🛡️ Protection against hostile takeovers: the high concentration of shares in the hands of the alliance makes it invulnerable to external investors.
  • 📉 Limited flexibility: Difficulty making quick decisions (for example, during the 2020 crisis).

In 2023, the parties announced alliance restructuringto make it easier to manage. Under the new agreement:

⚠️ Attention: Renault will reduce its share in Nissan with 43.4% to 15% (like Nissan in Renault), but will retain preferred shares with veto power on key issues. This should balance the influence of the parties and reduce tension in the relationship.

Key models created thanks to the alliance

Cooperation between Nissan And Renault resulted in the emergence of dozens of models built on common platforms. This allowed us to reduce development and production costs while maintaining the unique design and positioning of each brand. Let's look at the most significant projects:

🚗 Platform CMF (Common Module Family)

This is the modular architecture that underlies most modern alliance models. It allows you to create cars of different classes - from subcompacts to crossovers - on the same technological base. Examples:

  • 🔹 Renault Clio V (2019) and Nissan Juke (F16) (2019) - compact hatchbacks on CMF-B
  • 🔹 Renault Mégane IV And Nissan Qashqai (J11) - on CMF-C/D
  • 🔹 Renault Koleos And Nissan X-Trail (T32) - on CMF-C/D for SUV

🔋 Electric cars on the platform CMF-EV

Dedicated architecture for electric vehicles, debuting in 2021. Its features:

  • 🔋 Batteries with a capacity of 60 kWh to 90 kWh
  • ⚡ Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with power up to 220 kW (300 hp)
  • 📏 Wheelbase adjustable from 2,700 mm to 2,900 mm

The first models on CMF-EV:

  • 🚘 Nissan Ariya (2021) - flagship electric crossover
  • 🚘 Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric (2022) - electric hatchback
  • 🚐 Mitsubishi Airtrek (planned by 2026)
💡

If you choose between Nissan Ariya And Renault Mégane E-Tech, pay attention to the ground clearance: Ariya he's on 50 mm above (175 mm against 125 mm), which makes it more universal for Russian roads.

🏆 The most successful "generic" models

Some alliance cars have become real bestsellers:

Model Brand Debut year Total sales (millions)
Qashqai Nissan 2006 7.5+
Duster Renault/Dacia 2010 5.2+
Almera (based on Renault Symbol) Nissan 2012 3.1+
Kaptur Renault 2016 2.8+

Scandal with Carlos Ghosn: how it affected the alliance

On November 19, 2018, news spread around the world: Carlos Ghosn, the architect of the alliance's success, was arrested in Japan on charges of financial fraud. He was charged with:

  • 💸 Non-declaration of income in the amount ~5 billion yen (~44 million dollars)
  • 📄 Suspicion of using corporate assets for personal purposes
  • 🏢 Abuse of power in setting salaries for top management

Gon spent 108 days in a Japanese prison, after which he fled to Lebanon through Turkey (Operation Phoenix, cost - ~$15 million). This incident became the catalyst for a crisis in the alliance:

⚠️ Attention: After Gon left Nissan And Renault began an open confrontation. The Japanese accused the French of excessive control, and the French of sabotaging joint projects. For example, Nissan blocked the merger deal Renault with Fiat Chrysler in 2019, costing the alliance billions in potential profits.

Consequences of the scandal:

  • 📉 Falling shares Nissan on 20% for 2019
  • 🔄 Change of leadership: new head Nissan became Makoto Uchida
  • 📊 Revision of the alliance strategy towards an “equal partnership”
What happened to Carlos Ghosn after his escape?

Ghosn now lives in Lebanon, where he has citizenship. In 2020, he was sentenced in absentia by a Japanese court to 6 years in prison, but extradition is impossible due to the lack of an agreement between the countries. In 2022, Ghosn filed a lawsuit against Nissan on 1 billion dollars for "unlawful prosecution", but a court in the Netherlands rejected his claims.

Alliance Technological Innovation

One of the key benefits of cooperation has been the joint development of technology. The Alliance is investing billions in:

🔋 Electromobility and batteries

Renault-Nissan was a pioneer of mass production of electric cars:

  • 🚗 Nissan Leaf (2010) - the first production electric car with lithium-ion batteries (sales - 600,000+ pieces)
  • 🔄 Technology e-Power (hybrid with generator) - used in Nissan Note And Kicks
  • 🔋 Sunderland Battery Plant (UK) - Power 60,000 batteries per year

🤖 Autonomous driving

The Alliance is developing a system ProPILOT (y Nissan) and Renault EASY LINKwhich include:

  • 🛣️ Automatic lane and distance keeping (level SAE Level 2)
  • 🚦 Recognition of road signs and traffic lights
  • 🅿️ Automatic parking (including perpendicular)

The system is expected to debut in 2026 Level 3 (conditional autonomy) on new models Nissan And Renault.

🛠️ Joint production standards

The Alliance implements Alliance Production Way — a unified plant management system that allowed:

  • ⏱️ Reduce the assembly time of one car by 30%
  • 🔧 Unify 80% tools on assembly lines
  • 🌍 Transfer best practices between factories in Europe, Asia and America
💡

The main advantage of the alliance is savings on development. For example, platform CMF-B used for 15 different models, saving more than 1 billion euros for R&D.

Alliance prospects: what awaits Nissan-Renault in the future

By 2026, the alliance sets itself ambitious goals:

  1. 📈 Increase total operating margin to 6% (now - ~4.3%)
  2. 🔋 Release 35 new electric vehicles by 2030
  3. 🌍 The share of electric cars in sales should reach 40% in Europe and 15% in the USA
  4. 🤖 Introduce autonomous driving Level 3 on 10 models

However, there are also serious challenges:

  • 🇨🇳 Competition in the Chinese market (where Nissan is losing ground due to local brands like BYD)
  • 🇷🇺 Sanctions and exit from the Russian market (losses - ~200,000 sales per year)
  • 💰 High costs for the transition to electric vehicles (investments - 23 billion euros until 2026)

The alliance's strategy for the coming years includes:

  • 🔄 Restructuring of share capital (reduction of share Renault in Nissan)
  • 🤝 Deepening cooperation with Mitsubishi in Asia and Oceania
  • 🚀 Development of new businesses: carsharing (Mobilize), battery recycling, software

The share of electric cars in sales exceeds 25%|Operating margin is consistently above 5%|Successful debut of models on the CMF-EV platform|Reducing Nissan's debt below 1 trillion yen|Resolving conflicts between Renault and Nissan-->

How does the alliance affect the Russian market?

Until 2022, Russia was one of the key markets for the alliance: plant Renault Russia released in Moscow Duster, Kaptur, Arkana And Nissan Terrano. Production volume reached 500,000 vehicles per year. However, after the start of a special military operation:

  • 🚨 Renault sold its assets in Russia (including a plant in Moscow) for 1 ruble to the city of Moscow (May 2022)
  • 🔄 Nissan suspended deliveries of new cars, but retained service support
  • 🔧 Production Duster And Terrano transferred to the brand Moskvich (based on the platform Renault Dacia)

Consequences for Russian owners:

  • ⚠️ Service: official dealers Nissan And Renault continue to operate, but spare parts supplies are limited.
  • 🔋 Electric cars: sales Nissan Leaf And Renault Kangoo Z.E. discontinued, but owners can count on warranty support until 2026.
  • 💰 Cost of used cars: used prices Qashqai And Duster grew by 20-30% due to a shortage of new cars.
⚠️ Attention: If you own an alliance vehicle manufactured after 2018, check for software updates via My Renault or NissanConnect. After companies leave the Russian market, some functions (for example, remote access) may be disabled.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about the Nissan-Renault alliance

🔹 Why doesn't Nissan buy Renault, despite its large share?

Japanese laws limit the influence of foreign investors, and Nissan there are not enough available funds for redemption 43.4% shares Renault. In addition, the French state (owning 15% Renault) would block such a deal.

🔹 Which Nissan and Renault models are completely identical?

There are no complete “clones”, but they are as close as possible:

  • Nissan Almera (T32) And Renault Symbol III (differences are only in logos and small details)
  • Nissan Terrano And Renault Duster I (first generation)
  • Nissan NV250 And Renault Trafic (commercial vans)

🔹 Will the alliance produce hydrogen cars?

Yes, but not anytime soon. Renault And Nissan focused on electric vehicles, but Nissan tests fuel cells based on e-NV200. A production hydrogen car is expected no earlier than 2028.

🔹 Is it possible to install spare parts from Renault on Nissan and vice versa?

Yes, but with reservations:

  • 🔧 Engines and transmissions: often interchangeable (e.g. motor HR16DE at Nissan Juke And Renault Captur)
  • 🔋 Electronics: control units may differ in firmware
  • 🚗 Body parts: usually incompatible due to different designs

Before purchasing, check catalogs by VIN code!

🔹 What will happen to the alliance if one of the partners goes bankrupt?

The cross-overship agreement provides for the following protection mechanisms:

  • If Renault will go bankrupt Nissan will have the right to buy his assets at a preferential price.
  • If problems arise Nissan, Renault obliged to provide financial support (as in 1999).
  • In extreme cases, the assets will be sold off, but the brands will remain independent.