News starting to come out from the Renault side. https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/renault-said-be-near-first-conclusions-ghosn-probe
Juicy news. Carlos Ghosn was planning to remove Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa. https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/ghosn-planned-remove-saikawa-nissan-ceo-arrest-japan-sources-say
Nissan trying to block access to apartment in Rio. The reasoning seems odd. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Nissan-s-Ghosn-crisis/Nissan-seeks-to-block-Ghosn-s-access-to-apartment-in-Rio
Ghosn charged. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Nissan-s-Ghosn-crisis/Ghosn-and-Nissan-charged-with-underreporting-of-pay
I'd say make some popcorn and enjoy the show... but if Ghosn is being subjected to repeated daily interrogations intended to break him down and force a confession regardless of the facts, then it's hardly a "show" that we should be enjoying. Maybe I'm biased, but my sympathy is definitely with the accused in this case. Criminal charges seem all out of proportion to the alleged regulatory infractions. P.S. -- Thanks again, Gooki, for keeping us up-to-date!
As predicted Ghosn’s detention has been extended. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Nissan-s-Ghosn-crisis/Ghosn-s-detention-extended-by-another-10-days
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Nissan-s-Ghosn-crisis/List-kept-by-Ghosn-allegedly-shows-pay-discrepancies
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nissan-ghosn/nissan-ex-chairman-ghosn-files-complaint-over-detention-idUKKBN1OA0ES
Denied Maintaining innocence https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nissan-ghosn/court-rejects-nissan-ex-chairman-ghosns-appeal-to-end-detention-idUSKBN1OA0EQ
Sounding like a broken record here, but thanks again Gooki for keeping us updated on this important story!
My guess is that some people are hoping the alliance splits-up, or at-least that Renault sells its stake, "unleashing" Nissan and Mitsubishi. But it would be interesting for Renault to purchase $2.2bn in Nissan, taking a majority share to protect itself and the alliance, then declare a full merger. Personally, I think the alliance was a great blueprint for how to make domestically-focused manufacturers competitive. For example, there are lots of US drivers who will "only drive a Ford [truck]". Those buyers won't accept Ford if it is foreign-owned. But if Ford becomes a 1-country truck company, it won't last long, either. Having Ford become part of an "almost-merger" (such as its EV sharing with VW) could be the "best of both worlds."
Alliances between large auto makers will likely become much more important over the next few years, as the pressure on legacy auto makers to convert to making BEVs becomes more intense. Splitting the R&D cost for developing true BEVs -- as opposed to trying to shoehorn a BEV powertrain into an existing gasmobile -- will help legacy auto makers survive. From Teslarati.com: "Ford and VW are considering an alliance to push EVs in Tesla-dominated market"
Looks like Renault may be looking to exercise some of their power as a majority Shareholder of Nissan.
The future of the Alliance is not looking good. Nissan might find itself back in the minor leagues at this rate. Way to go, Saikawa-san.