A new compact car platform under discussion between Daimler and Renault-Nissan could be used for non-premium cars sold by Renault and Nissan.
Extending the platform’s use is one of the ideas being consider by Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche as they look for ways to maximize the advantages of their 3-year-old alliance.
Renault and partner Nissan Motor created a parts-procurement venture with AvtoVAZ, Russia’s biggest carmaker, as the manufacturers seek to limit costs as they expand in the country in a three-way tie-up.
The venture is modeled on the 12-year-old Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization, which holds a 50 percent stake in the new Russian entity, with AvtoVAZ owning the other half, the companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
Automakers and analysts disagree on when European passenger car sales will finally rebound from a six-year slump. Ford Motor Co. and Daimler see signs that the bottom will be reached this year.
“We’re not predicting any upturn yet, but there are certainly some good indications,” Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell said last month. “Our prediction would be that we’re at or close to the trough.”
With unemployment in France rising and consumer confidence at a record low, auto sales in the country have tumbled more than any other major European market this year.
Just 30 of the new limited edition Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8s will be sold in the UK, priced £28,245 on-the-road.
