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Renault-Nissan Alliance Recognises Its 10-Year Anniversary
TOKYO/PARIS March 27, 2009: Signed on March 27, 1999, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has
built a unique business model that has created significant value for both companies. For 10 years,
employees at Renault and Nissan have worked as partners with attitudes of mutual respect and
company pride while keeping separate brands and corporate identities.
“From the beginning, the Alliance has been based on the premise of trust and the pursuit of
strategies aimed at profitable growth,” says Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and
Nissan. “We continue to honour these principles, even as we are continually adapting to the
current operating environment, which is severe. The Alliance is equipping Renault and Nissan
not only to survive the global financial and economic crisis, but to be in a better position to
compete effectively after this crisis ends.”
Key indicators illustrate benefits the Alliance has delivered to both companies:
Profitability and market capitalisation The Alliance has led to greatly increased profitability and market capitalisation for both
companies, from 1999 until the current global economic and financial crisis.
In terms of market capitalisation, Renault’s more than tripled, growing from 8.4 billion euros to
27.6 billion euros. Renault ranked sixth in the car industry in 2007, compared to its eleventh-
place ranking in 1999. Over the same period, Nissan’s market capitalisation quadrupled, from 9
billion yen to 34.2 billion yen. The company ranked at fifth position in 2007, compared to tenth
in 1999.
The average operating profit for the period of 1999 to 2007 increased significantly compared to
the period of 1990 to 1999. Operating profit was multiplied by five for Renault, from 442 million
euros to 2.126 million euros, and multiplied by eight for Nissan, from 79.6 billion yen to 636.1
billion yen.
Cash contribution Initially, Renault made a cash contribution of 6.4 billion euros to Nissan. Nissan has since
contributed more than 11 billion euros to Renault’s bottom line. There has been a substantial
exchange of cash, capital, profit and dividends between the two companies.
Ten achievements in 10 years of the Alliance
1/ Sales Combined sales increased from 4,989,709 units in 1999 to 6,090,304 (without Avtovaz sales) in
2008.
2/ Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organisation (RNPO) scope is 100% RNPO is the Alliance’s largest common organisation, negotiating on behalf of Renault and
Nissan. From April 1, 2009, its joint purchasing activities will account for 100% of Alliance
purchases, compared to a scope of 30% at its creation in 2001.
3/ Common platforms and common parts Shared platforms and common parts (parts that are not visible to the customer such as gearboxes
or air-conditioning systems) are tools used by the Alliance to make economies of scale and
reduce development and production costs.
The common platforms, namely the B platform (notably Nissan Tiida/Versa and Renault Clio)
and C platform (notably Renault Mégane/Scénic and Nissan Qashqai), represented more than
50% of the vehicles sold by Renault and Nissan globally in 2008.
4/ Exchanges of powertrains and common powertrains To capitalise on the powertrain expertise of both partners (Renault for diesel and Nissan for
gasoline), the Alliance co-developed common engines and gearboxes, including a six-speed
manual gearbox and a new V6 diesel engine. The Alliance also exchanges existing engines or
gearboxes – for example, the Nissan 3.5-litre gasoline engine for Renault Laguna and Renault
1.5-litre diesel engine for Nissan Qashqai). In total, eight engines are commonly used.
5/ Expansion of the portfolio of advanced technologies Renault and Nissan are cooperating on strategic fields of research and advanced engineering.
Renault and Nissan have a common technology plan based on four common pillars: Safety,
Environment-CO2, Life-on-Board and Dynamic Performance.
Concerning zero-emission technology, Renault and Nissan are focusing on electric vehicles: so
far, nearly 20 agreements have been signed with governments and corporations to launch the first
electric vehicle in 2010 and to mass market a full range of electrical vehicles in 2012.
6/ Manufacturing standardisation The Renault Production System (RPS), the standard used by all the Renault plants, borrowed
extensively from the Nissan Production Way. Since it has been implemented, Renault
productivity has improved by 15 percent.
Using the best practices of Renault and Nissan, the Alliance partners have developed the
Alliance Common Process or Alliance Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS), which will
initially be used at greenfield sites in India (Chennai) and Morocco (Tangier).
7/ Cross production Within the Alliance, each company has the opportunity to use the manufacturing capacities of its
partner. Today, Renault’s plants produce Nissan vehicles in Korea (Almera Classic) and Brazil
(Livina), whereas Nissan assembles Renault vehicles in South Africa (Sandero), Mexico (Clio)
and Spain (Trafic).
8/ Global footprint Due to geographical complementarities, Renault and Nissan cover key markets on all continents.
Renault’s historical territories are Europe, North Africa and South America; Nissan’s major
markets are Japan, North America, Mexico, China and the Middle East. Since 2005, Renault and
Nissan have been entering new territories together, such as India, in order to expand their global
footprint.
9/ Expansion of product line-ups The Alliance has contributed to the expansion of product line-ups. Nissan has increased its LCV
range in Europe by badging Renault products: Renault Kangoo/ Nissan Kubistar, Renault
Master/ Nissan Interstar, Renault Trafic/ Nissan Primastar. On Renault side, Koleos has been
designed by Renault but developed by Nissan and is using advanced Nissan 4x4 technology.
10/ Cross-cultural management As a global industrial and economic actor, the Renault-Nissan Alliance built a unique experience
in multi-cultural management at all levels. Each year, more than 30 teams with Renault and
Nissan employees from all regions and functions work together to identify synergies and best
practices. Thousands of people with cross-cultural experience have been in collaboration since
the beginning of the Alliance.
“We are proud of all we have achieved in the past 10 years,” says Carlos Ghosn, “and we are
looking forward to realising even more of our potential in the future. Leveraging our partnership
fully in the Alliance, we will be taking further steps to deepen synergies between Renault and
Nissan that will contribute to the profitable growth of each company.”
The Renault-Nissan Alliance will announce the complete list of synergies (as announced in
February) in May 2009.