Alliance to Choose EV Powertrain Lead Brand
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance will slice-and-dice three core production responsibilities meaning one will be selected to lead its electrified powertrain development.
It will pose something of an issue internally choosing between to current top BEV contenders, Nissan and Renault who are more or less neck-and-neck in terms of expertise with the technology. However, Nissan can be seen as the front-runner able to lay claim to more global sales of BEVs in the shape of its Leaf. The Japanese automaker has also been chosen as the dedicated region “reference company” for China, the current biggest global growth area for BEV sales.
The second core area of technology is less obvious because, once again, Nissan’s products already boast ProPilot adaptive cruise control seen as an essential stepping stone towards autonomous driving. At the same time, Mitsubishi can claim advanced camera technology for monitoring driver awareness and its 2-Eye parking system.
As to platforms, its likely Renault will become the lead developer of the common module family (CMF) platform the Alliance has been using since 2013. Both Renault and Nissan use the platform extensively, latterly adding the Renault sub-brand Dacia and announcing that Mitsubishi will be using it in the forthcoming RVR and Outlander. Territorially, Renault gets the European market while Mitsubishi will take responsibility for the South East Asia zone.
In a short statement, the Alliance said: “The AOB [Alliance Operating Board], which consists one chairman and the chairman or chief executive officer of each member company, also agree to engage actively with the respective board of directors of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors to strengthen its governance to operate effectively for the benefit of each member company. Such initiatives will maximise the collaboration within the Alliance, while preserving the identity and autonomy of each member company.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
