Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

Spain is a vital hub for both Renault and Nissan. It is the centre of Nissan’s commercial vehicle operations in Europe with plants in Barcelona and Avila, while Renault has vehicle factories in Palencia and Valladolid and powertrain plants in Valencia and Seville.

To mark the contribution the Renault-Nissan Alliance makes to Spain’s economy, our chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn has been awarded the historic Grand-Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. José Manuel Soria, Spanish Minister of Industry, made the presentation at a special ceremony.

The official citation says the award was given to Mr Ghosn for ‘his contribution to the ties of friendship and co-operation between Spain and the rest of the international community.’

After the ceremony Mr Ghosn presented Renault’s industrial plan for 2014-2016 to Mariano Rajoy, President of the Spanish Government, and later in the day he was received by His Majesty Juan Carlos I to talk about the state of the automotive market in Spain and the rest of Europe.

Mr Ghosn said: “I would like to thank the Spanish Government and His Majesty King Juan Carlos for this prestigious award. Spain has been at the heart of the Alliance since its founding.

“President Rajoy and I were able to exchange viewpoints on today’s economic and industrial realities. He assured me of his support for our industrial plan in Spain.”

• The Grand-Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic was created in 1815 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain, in honour of Queen Isabella I of Castile, to ‘reward the firm allegiance to Spain and the merits of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation…’

• Read more about the Order of Isabella the Catholic
   
• See the press release