After a failed attempt at forming an alliance with General Motors in 2006, French-Japanese automaker Renault-Nissan will look at new partnership possibilities in 2009, CEO Carlos Ghosn told French newspaper Le Parisien.
The company could chose to partner with one of the two other struggling U.S. automakers, he said. The now-independent Chrysler Group is an obvious target for an alliance or merger, but Ford is also likely on Ghosn’s radar.
Prior to its talks with GM, Renault-Nissan briefly discussed an alliance with Ford, according to various reports. While nothing came of those talks, both parties might have different feelings by 2009.
Ghosn said his company will start looking at alliance options once it’s back on the path to growth. He sees 2009 as a key “revival” year for his company.
06/05, 12:55 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
ford needs to o something and fast
06/05, 1:00 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
or i could possibly see all three merging together, hey they’d be bigger than toyota
06/05, 1:01 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
if ford does this then we get rebadged nissans and mazdas as fords?
06/05, 1:26 PM
posted by:
BryceStrong
I think Nissan and Ford could both use each other in the truck department. Nissan needs to market itself ahead of Toyota. After all, Toyota still has no idea how to produce a competitive full-size truck. And Ford, given its leverage, might able to use some Nissan engineering to produce an even better truck. If Ford maintains its position and Nissan is placed in a better position to combat Toyota, American trucks will never lose ground to the Japanese. Toyota hasn’t even overtaken Dodge yet. Now is an opportune time to ‘kill it before it grows’.
06/05, 1:32 PM
posted by:
maximus
Nissan is among the best car companies out there, why would they want to dilute their imaging by partnering up with failing entities? That is counterproductive.
06/05, 1:40 PM
posted by:
A4
Hasnt Ghosn already stated that he doesnt need Ford’s or GM’s services?
06/05, 2:00 PM
posted by:
Jazz
Doent’ need them but they could go a long way in helping each other. Ford has extra factory capacity. Nissan needs factory capacity. Ford needs to restructure factory worker debt. Nissan could carry some of the debt while Ford restructures. BOth companies would be stonger oin the long run and able to compete on a better footing. I think Mullally is a fan of Toyota though
06/05, 2:01 PM
posted by:
Bryce
maximus,
Toyota’s growth didn’t only affect the Big Three. This is oversimplification on my part, but Nissan is to Toyota and Honda what Dodge is to GM and FoMoCo. Nissan may be in a much better position than the former DCX, however, the company is hoping for a rebound. Consider GMICT. In the retail sector you’d think GM was foolish to partner with Isuzu. And disregarding Isuzu retail, their cooperation has led to much success. So what I’m getting at is this: Ford has a lot to offer to Nissan. In many instances (probably most) I doubt there will be advertising making it obvious that the two are working together. The average consumer won’t know the difference.
06/05, 2:22 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
bryce your rite, other than lln enthusiasts, nobody i talk to know that gm and toyota have been holding hands for years now. even with joint products like the vibe/matrix……anyways the point is consumers will never know.
06/05, 3:12 PM
posted by:
Htay5500
im eager to hear the sales for all carmakers fromthe past month.
06/05, 3:13 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Once bitten twice shy.
Chrysler won’t bite this bait.
Ford is big enough, still, to prevent a takeover like DCX was. But they have Mazda in their pocket. It might be a bad move to sign on with another Japanese automaker, no matter how good and a French maker who might not translate well in the group.
Time will tell.
06/05, 3:29 PM
posted by:
LP640
nissan must have a death wish if they are willing to team up with Ford
06/05, 5:21 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
No, they want to bankrupt whatever company is foolish enough to fall for their alliance (in essence they want to take down as many auto manufacturers with them as possible).
06/05, 6:06 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
This isn’t a good move for Ford to take. They have everything they need to make a turnaround already, it’s just that intention hasn’t translated into action (as usual for Ford). What the heck is Alan Mullay doing for them at this time?
06/05, 10:21 PM
posted by:
GMCsyclone#478
wasnt it nissan that approached gm/ford and got shot down? not the other way around?
06/06, 10:50 AM
posted by:
rerone
Hey I know. Do an alliance with Chrysler. Rename one of those crappy Chrysler front wheel drivers the Reliance just like in the 80’s when Chrysler had an alliance with Renault. It’s come full circle.
06/06, 11:59 AM
posted by:
GarbageMotorsCo
It seems like a natural choice for Nissan and Ford to merge. They’ve worked together in the past on the Villager/Quest minivans. Now, Chrysler in there? That’s just weird.
06/06, 7:34 PM
posted by:
Gogogodzilla
I’m thinking the same thing here. It’d be a natural for Ford and Renault/Nissan to form a partership.
Maybe with some Renault/Nissan leadership, Ford might actually bring the Euro-Focus and the Mondeo out for sale here in the states.
For it sure won’t happen under the current Ford leadership.
06/08, 1:08 AM
posted by:
TOZO
Just merge Renault and Nissan already. It’ll slim down the accounting work. But Ford or Chrysler? Why does Ghosn believe he needs them? North American capacity is full he says, but sales have pretty much been steady (Up 3% this year) – Not moving like Toyota anyway. A few percentage points doesn’t really mean Nissan means too much more space.