Merger talks by FCA and Renault catch Nissan by surprise
Nissan heard of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles-Renault plan just days ago, which deal could reduce Nissan’s influence in the Renault alliance
Tokyo/Beijing — Nissan found out about Renault’s merger talks with Fiat Chrysler just days before they became public, four sources have told Reuters, stoking fears at the Japanese car maker that a deal could further weaken its position in a 20-year alliance with Renault. Nissan Motor CEO Hiroto Saikawa likely first caught wind of the merger plan through his own COO, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, who also serves on Renault’s board, one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Saikawa’s actual notification from Renault most likely came a day ahead of a report over the weekend that the French company was in tie-up talks with Italian-American rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the source said. The plan, which would create the world’s third-largest automobile maker, raises difficult questions about how Nissan would fit into a radically changed alliance. Renault chair Jean-Dominique Senard arrived in Japan on Tuesday to discuss the proposed ti...
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