Renault-Nissan Alliance & Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Explore Wide Ranging Global Product and Technology Cooperation

AsiaNet 54903

AMSTERDAM and TOKYO, Nov. 5, 2013/ PRN=KYODO JBN / --

    - New projects to drive global product coverage and capacity utilization

    The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today

announced their joint intention to explore several new projects covering shared

products, technologies and manufacturing capacity among the automakers. As a

consequence, it has been agreed that the strategic cooperation between Nissan

and Mitsubishi Motors could be expanded across the broader Renault-Nissan

Alliance.

    Between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, it is expected that the existing NMKV

joint-venture company will be extended to co-develop a new small-segment car

including a specific electric version that can be sold on a global basis. The

basis for this product will be from a jointly-developed 'Kei car' platform of

the type popular in the Japanese domestic market. Further details of all

products, markets and manufacturing will be announced separately.

    The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation are also

confirming their intention to share technologies and product assets related to

electric vehicles and latest-generation platforms. Renault, Nissan and

Mitsubishi Motors were among the first to pioneer the introduction of

mass-marketed zero emission products.

    Based on the current direction of discussions between Renault and

Mitsubishi Motors, it is firstly expected that two new sedan models would be

launched under the Mitsubishi brand, based on vehicles from the Renault

portfolio. Secondary and additional studies around other projects will then be

considered.

    - The first sedan, to compete in the full-size D-segment markets of the

United States and Canada and would be manufactured at the Renault-Samsung plant

in Busan, South Korea.

    - The second sedan model would compete in the global C-segment. The

manufacturing location for this product is under discussion.

    President and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn, said:

"Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have jointly benefited from several

collaborations in the past, most recently the successful joint-venture on Kei

cars in Japan. I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader

cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further

leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors."

    Full press release available here:

http://www.media.blog.alliance-renault-nissan.com/news/4621

    Contacts:

    Mia Nielsen

    Renault-Nissan Alliance

    +33(0)6-10-83-31-33

    mia.nielsen@renault.com

    Rochelle Chimenes

    Renault SAS

    rochelle.chimenes@renault.com

    +33(0)6-85-32-65-50

    Toshitake Inoshita

    Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

    t-inoshita@mail.nissan.co.jp

    +81(0)45-523-5552

    Shigeru Jibiki

    Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

    shigeru.jibiki@mitsubishi-motors.com

    +81-(0)3-6852-4274

Source: Renault-Nissan Alliance