Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler’s CEO Dieter Zetsche held their annual press conference last Friday Sept. 28 at the Paris Motor Show to update on the Alliance-Daimler strategic partnership which began in April 2010.

At the conference, the CEOs announced two new projects to accelerate development of fuel-efficient powertrains and confirmed that the original projects announced in 2010 have been accomplished or are on track. The first concrete results of that partnership are visible on the road this year – the Mercedes A-Class with a 1.5 dCI Renault engine and the Mercedes Citan, a small van built on the Renault Kangoo architecture at Renault’s Maubeuge plant in France.

The Lada brand has been dominant in Russia for decades, and manufacturer AvtoVAZ is aiming to use its Renault-Nissan ties to shore up its position and products in the years ahead.

Here Igor Burenkov, director of external relations, talks about AVTOVAZ’s new SUV concept unveiled at the recent Moscow Automotive Salon.

A far-reaching program designed to integrate France’s poorest citizens back into work has been launched by Renault. Called Renault MOBILIZ, it’s a unique social/business initiative that aims to make motoring more accessible for those who can’t afford a car.

It is estimated that as many as eight million people in France live below the poverty line. Because they cannot afford to buy, run or maintain a car – and especially if they live in rural areas with poor public transport facilities – their lack of mobility means it is difficult, if not impossible, to find work or to fully enter society. And without work, they’ll stay in poverty… it’s a vicious circle.

Yuki Morimoto says she, like every interpreter, is the most attentive person in the room. Just inches from Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn – as if tethered by invisible cuffs, such proximity could have a similar effect on anyone.

But Morimoto, weighted by a shoulder bag and neatly tucked into a suit of seasonal hues with lipstick to match, is not one to flinch. She exudes an executive’s confidence – arguably, that’s part of her job.

The partnership between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler has reached a milestone with the groundbreaking on a new manufacturing facility in Decherd, Tennessee.

The new facility – located at the existing Nissan powertrain assembly complex – will produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline engines for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz models.

•    Renault-Nissan and state corporation Russian Technologies will form joint venture to accelerate product launches and technology transfer to AVTOVAZ, Russia’s largest carmaker.
•    Renault-Nissan will invest about US$750 million, and Russian Technologies will favorably restructure debt as they form the joint venture.
•    Renault-Nissan will get a majority stake in the joint venture, which will control AVTOVAZ; transaction is expected to be complete in 2014.
    
PARIS – May 3, 2012 -- The Renault-Nissan Alliance and state corporation Russian Technologies have agreed to create a joint venture and give the Renault-Nissan Alliance an indirect majority stake in AVTOVAZ, according to a new memorandum of understanding.

Auto China 2012, the nation’s biggest auto show, opened its doors to media on Monday in Beijing, with almost 90 global debuts and over 40 Asian premieres.

Interest in the Beijing event now rivals the worlds’ top auto shows, reflecting the critical importance of the Chinese market to the car industry.

•    €400 million investment generates capacity of up to 350,000 cars annually across three brands.
•    After Lada Largus, separate models from Nissan and Renault will follow.
•    This new production line contributes to the three partners’ common goal: achieve capacity of at least 1.6 million vehicles per year in Russia by 2016.

TOGLIATTI, Russia – April 4, 2012 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inaugurated a new car manufacturing facility today, marking the latest milestone in the expanding Renault-Nissan Alliance and AVTOVAZ partnership.

In the latest step forward in the collaboration of the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler, Nissan’s Decherd, Tenn., plant will build Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz starting in 2014.

Carlos Ghosn and Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche confirmed Wednesday that their 18-month old partnership is on track, including plans to build the next-generation Daimler Smart and Renault Twingo on the same platform. The two CEOs, speaking at a joint press conference at the Frankfurt Motor Show, also said they would expand their cooperation with Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti to build a future compact car on a platform developed by Mercedes-Benz, among other plans.

Listen to the full audio recording of the conference.

For the full transcript, click here