Nissan and Renault have made progress in their ongoing talks to reorganise their relationship, which dates back to 1999 when Renault bailed out Nissan. On Monday, a Nissan board committee evaluated Renault’s proposals and approved moving forward with negotiating conditions for the reconfigured alliance. Renault CEO Luca De Meo is scheduled to visit Japan later this month for talks with Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, the second time the two leaders have met since talks began in October.
After three months of working-level conversations aimed at reforming the alliance, the Nissan board-level evaluation represents progress. On Monday, Uchida addressed Nissan’s independent directors on the status of the negotiations, including new Renault suggestions aimed at addressing the Japanese automaker’s worries over safeguards for its technology, especially hybrid systems. Nissan’s external directors met in committee and approved actions to try to establish an agreement between the two parties.
