Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa made it clear that he wants to end Renault's control of the alliance.
PARIS / TOKYO – The leaders of Renault-Nissan will try this week to protect their joint operations against a threatening power struggle between the car manufacturers, after the shock of arrested alliance Carlos Ghosn on allegations of misconduct.
Top executives from both manufacturers and third partner Mitsubishi will attend meetings of mid-term operational committees in Amsterdam that were scheduled before Ghosn & # 39; s November 19 detention in Japan, confirmed the companies.
"There is no change in our alliance relationship," said a spokesperson for Mitsubishi.
While Nissan and 43.4 per cent owner Renault have promised to safeguard the cooperation, the Japanese car manufacturer-director Hiroto Saikawa also made it clear that he wants to end the French parent's control of the alliance, because he quickly moved to Ghosn as chairman.
Ghosn, 64, and alleged co-conspirator Greg Kelly, a co-director of Nissan, deny all accusations that they underestimated Ghosn's compensation, misrepresented Nissan investments and made personal use of corporate funds, reported the Japanese broadcaster NHK.
Renault has refrained from dropping Ghosn as chairman and CEO, while Nissan wanted him to share findings from the months-long internal investigation that led to his arrest. The tasks of Ghosn have been delegated to the second commander Thierry Bollore and the board director Philippe Lagayette.
The Amsterdam meeting will probably meet Bollore and Saikawa for the first time since the arrest of Ghosn, near the companies.
"These are purely operational sessions," said an official from Renault.
All three car manufacturers have emphasized that the activities and alliance activities are normal. Nissan, however, called for the launch of a powerful Leaf-electric car and canceled the November 28 events in Yokohama and Amsterdam.
A spokesman for Nissan gave no reason for the delay and said the company had to set a new date for the announcement.