Nissan should remedy unequal Renault alliance, ex-CEO Saikawa says

Saikawa denied Ghosn's allegation that then-Nissan executives including Saikawa staged a coup to oust him, saying Ghosn had "clearly" committed fraud.

And the reason Saikawa is not in jail for fraud himself is......

In classic Japanese manner, Saikawa would want to have Renault to follow Nissan decisions and not the other way around.

Renault became the top shareholder of Nissan in 1999 when the Japanese firm was on the verge of bankruptcy,

Renault comes and saves Saikawa and the other goons' jobs by investing in a failing Nissan and they call it a "twisted relationship". That's how investing works my dude.

Saikawa is delusional! He is infamous among the real business elite. Or as one Japanese colleague put it, "Saikawa is an old style Japanese businessman and look where that got Japan now".

Nissan should remedy unequal Renault alliance

Why it should be equal? Remember which company really need help

https://www.quora.com/Why-had-the-news-that-Nissan-almost-went-bankrupt-in-1999-and-had-to-be-saved-by-a-non-Japanese-company-to-be-kept-a-secret-in-Japan

Why it should be equal?

Because the tide has turned. Controlling stakes not reflecting power and performance will stagnate the entire alliance. Not to mention Japan's advantage in having a weak yen, whilst the Euro zone is mired in high inflation and war.

There's an even bigger problem still in that the EU will no longer have the capacity to subsidize its industries. So watchout EU auto, aviation, industrials etc., your troff is near empty and EU tax payers are tired of filling your troff.

Renault comes and saves Saikawa and the other goons' jobs by investing in a failing Nissan and they call it a "twisted relationship".

And Carlos saves Nissan from bankruptcy AND refuses an executive position with a US Automaker because "the captain doesn't abandon his ship" and what does Nissan do? Put him in jail.

Phcopath, he turned on the one person who saved his career saved the company, to even give him time is making me feel dirty.

Can you force a major shareholder to sell? Renault is in the driver's seat. They don't need to sell to anyone.

"Ghosn had tried to merge Nissan with Renault, a move vehemently opposed by some executives at the Japanese company, according to Saikawa."

I miss Ghosn. An inspiration.

No way!!! The guy that screwed over Carlos Ghosn, the saviour of Nissan, thinks that they should remedy the unequal Renault alliance. Now way man. I can't believe it.

"...former Nissan President Hiroto Saikawa has said, emphasizing that the two companies should build a more equal relationship by reducing Renault's stake in Nissan."

This is the most uneducated thing I have read all year.

This is the most uneducated thing I have read all year.

...you need to take those blinkers off when you read. Direct example - the EU and its silly (stupid friction) emission rules has done nothing but leave an industry full of cheats and ill prepared for the BEVs onslaught. Its subsidies has just about reduced the entire EU auto industry to the only man left standing and that being the Germans, but only as a part of China's food chain.

Blind Freddy would jump at the chance for controls (decisions) to be located outside the EU.

After this, it's likely that foreigners would think twice to do a partnership with any Japanese company unless it is a complete takeover by foreigners. The mistake from Renault in the 1990s was not to push for a complete takeover.

Chinese businesspeople in Japan always take over any Japanese business completely and fire all Japanese oyaji leaders. That's why Chinese people have a steady foothold in Japan with nothing can stop them.

Renault's hesitation and Ghosn's naivete cost them in the long run. For Nissan's part, I highly doubt there will be anyone saving them in the future except for Chinese and Southeast Asians who will be there to completely buy Nissan out.

both Nissan and Renault brands are dead brands.so whatever.

Renault is at least trying to pivot into EVs through a partnership with China. Nissan is not even taking a step yet.

Toyota is drumming up anti-EV propaganda everywhere by paying the press and an army of weeb, baby boomer trolls. Honda is panicking, so they are willing to be dictated by Koreans, Chinese, Americans in the corporate relationship to produce an EV line.

If Japan fails to pivot into EV (very likely now) soon, then Japan's economy will be severely screwed more (More than 20-30% of Japanese manufacturing power).

Shouldn’t he be in jail? Not commenting on a company he destroyed.

Stabbing Ghosn in the back is a more accurate description of this snake,s "last job".

Exactly. He should be referred to as Snakawa

Shouldn’t he be in jail?

A big fat yes on that one!

Isn't it a matter of just buying out the Renault owned shares by offering a good enough deal?

Septim Dynasty - "Toyota is drumming up anti-EV propaganda everywhere ..."

I see Priuses everywhere. And they are affordable to most people - unlike Teslas.

Renault is at least trying to pivot into EVs through a partnership with China. Nissan is not even taking a step yet.

The partnership involves LFP chem battery from China and rather nasty e-motor from Nidec that Toyota will use only in cheap and nasty budget EV for the China and emerging markets. Renault EV = mediocre.

The same batteries ^ have been recalled on VWs, Porsches, Nio, BYDs....shuts down in cold weather, hard to recycle, and not as good at power delivery.

Toyota's own EV platform (ie better than above^) has been proven to be 'crap' when benchmarked against Teslas and is heading for the ether.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/10/24/business/corporate-business/toyota-ev-strategy-revamp/

Teslas are 1.5 decades ahead in every respect, because they had a 1.5 decades headstart. The Porsche Taycan still drives like an ICE car, driveline noises, vibrations, creaks and groans from instrument cluster etc...a car that's 3 times the price of a Tesla model S. Same for Benz EVs.

ALL the OEMs have finally realised you can't go parts bin diving and compete with Tesla. The only EV that can is Lucid, but they're 10 years behind Tesla in production know how.

Nissan doesn't have much time left to waste on petty political bickering like this.

Toyota just announced they froze their current EV development plan to decide if they should scrap e-TNGA platform and start over from scratch as Toyota is falling behind everyone in EV race.

What is Nissan doing to catch up to Tesla, Hyundai/Kia, and the Chinese?

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/exclusive-toyota-scrambles-ev-reboot-with-eye-tesla-2022-10-24/

Exclusive: Toyota scrambles for EV reboot with eye on Tesla

Toyota (7203.T) is considering a reboot of its electric-car strategy to better compete in a booming market it has been slow to enter, and has halted some work on existing EV projects, four people with knowledge of the still-developing plans said.

The proposals under review, if adopted, would amount to a dramatic shift for Toyota and rewrite the $38-billion EV rollout plan the Japanese automaker announced last year to better compete with the likes of Tesla (TSLA.O).

A working group within Toyota has been charged with outlining plans by early next year for improvements to its existing EV platform or for a new architecture, the four individuals said.

Just to illustrate how much Japanese are behind Hyundai in EV, Hyundai's 2025 EV platforms offer upto 800 km in single charge range.

The technology gap between the Koreans and the Japanese is frighteningly large, Japan's auto industry is all but finished just like semiconductor and electronics industry before it. While Toyota desperately try to catch up in 5 years, Hyundai just moves ahead so that the technology gap is still 5 years.

https://insideevs.com/news/615829/hyundai-new-em-platform-offer-50percent-more-range-than-current-evs/

Hyundai's New eM Platform To Offer 50% More Range Than Current EVs

Starting off with the new EV platforms that will be introduced in 2025, the eM and eS, the Korean automaker said they will be created under its Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) system, a shared hardware and software platform for its vehicles.

The eM platform will underpin EVs across all segments, providing a 50 percent improvement in driving range on a single charge compared to current EVs. The architecture is also being developed to support Level 3 or higher autonomous driving technology and OTA software update features.

What is Nissan doing to catch up to Tesla, Hyundai/Kia, and the Chinese?

Seriously, Chinese? They have Zilch invested in EV platform. They are using Nidec e-Axle, a product designed for cheapness, to retrofit into existing ICE platfotms. Made in China, mostly for entry level Chinese market.

https://www.nidec.com/en/product/news/2021/news1014-01/

...and look at companies it keeps...expand passenger car link. List of mediocrities....

https://www.nidec.com/en/nidec-machinetool/corporate/network/factory/nidec-machinetool-india-fa/our-customers/

They are all desperately trying to have a BEV car using existing ICE platforms, just like Benz, Hyundai/Kia.

Go to Munro Live youtube and look at some of the tear downs, the SK are producing motor for yield instead of performance/efficiency.

Nissan is the only company on your list that has a BEV specific platform, but it has been stagnant for a decade, no development since.

Saikawa should stay out of business that does not concern him.

I just didn't seem right what happened to Ghosn and the length of time he spent locked up. This was done in no small part because Saikawa sold him and others out in return for immunity from prosecution.

How he has the nerve to show his face, let alone comment on Nissan matters, beggars belief.

Calling this backstabber a snake is an insult to snakes.

Just to illustrate how much Japanese are behind Hyundai in EV

Not supported by evidence ^. Hyundai/Kia can't even produce their ICE based BEV, that's why you can't buy them, vs how many Nissan and Mitsubishi PHEV actually on the road?

The SK rushed their prototypes EV, like Toyota's e-TNGA BZ to market, but quality, production is still way behind Tesla.

Calling this backstabber a snake is an insult to snakes

You're right. I stand corrected, and I apologize to all snakes.

He's not Snakawa- He's SAIYAKUwa

Or Saiteikawa- (I like that one more)

For all the Ghosn fans here, ask this, what if Nissan had continually developed the Leaf? Would it have kept up with Tesla?

I still think the GTR is a fabulous car, but prefer my Twingo around town.

saikawa just explained why JAPAN destroyed and dismissed Mr Ghosn!!,

I will not buy a Nissan Car, not even if given away for free with a packet of Corn flakes.

If anyone else feels as disgusted about Nissan's blatant attack upon Ghosn, then join me and do the same. Its only through a potential buyers protest that we can "drive" the message home - and make it clear that driving a Nissan, is supporting such corrupt behavior.

Septim Dynasty - Renault is at least trying to pivot into EVs through a partnership with China. Nissan is not even taking a step yet.

Nissan released the first affordable mainstream EV with the Nissan Leaf.

charles chevaux -

"Toyota is drumming up anti-EV propaganda everywhere ..."

I see Priuses everywhere. And they are affordable to most people - unlike Teslas.

Prius is not an "EV" in the traditional use of the term. Although, technically, it is an "HEV" or "PHEV" depending on model (hybrid electric vehicle or plugin hybrid electric vehicle), the term "EV" by itself is generally used as a synonym to BEV (battery electric vehicle). The Prius is not a BEV.

FYI, there are also FCEVs, fuel cell electric vehicles. Toyota pushes HEV, PHEV, and FCEV. They had to be dragged kicking and screaming into BEV development. And, still seem to be doing it begrudgingly. The most obvious reason is that it's easier to control the supply and profit from the sale of fuels necessary for those vehicles to function.

Great idea. Let's return control of the company to the people that brought it to the brink of self-destruction, back from those who saved it. That oughta work.

There's nothing "exciting" about Nissan Cars - boxes (quite literally) upon 4 wheels, and given the apathy towards this Company - it's Service Centers will be in short supply going forward - so why bother buying into a Dinosaur or a Diseased product ?