Vision

Seminar of Renault and AvtoVAZ executives, held in Togliatti on 16 July 2010

How can Renault help AvtoVAZ get back on track? How can Renault succeed in Russia with AvtoVAZ? It was to answer those questions that representatives of the two companies' major functions met a couple of weeks ago .

The DeZir concept stands out as an illustration of Renault’s commitment to more emotional styling. The creative thinking behind the design of the front end was aimed at recalling Renault's styling heritage, while at the same time paving the way for the design trends of the brand's forthcoming models.

DeZir is the first project led by Laurens van den Acker and is the start of a sequence of concept cars that will provide an insight into Renault Design's new vision for the future. It also lays the foundations for the styling cues of Renault's forthcoming vehicles. The front-end design previews the new front-end identity that is poised to become a feature of all Renault models in the future.

The auto industry is probably better known for its intense competitiveness; companies finding more on which to disagree than agree. Trade associations such as the SMMT in the UK, ACEA in Europe and JAMA in Japan do create forums where automakers can debate areas of common interest and present a unified view on a specific issue.

Last year The World Economic Forum, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, helped to bring some of the major automakers together to make a unique but simple request to policy makers: we are ready to start working together to solve the environmental issues associated with vehicle transportation. Initially, the letter was signed by the CEOs of Daimler, Ford, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Toyota. Last month, the CEOs of Audi, Hyundai and Volkswagen added their names to the list, and we expect more to follow.

On Tuesday, Carlos Ghosn spoke at the Detroit Economic Club. In a moderated Q&A with Dan Howes from The Detroit News, Ghosn covered three broad themes: the consolidation trends driving the industry, the shift towards sustainable (zero emission) mobility and the opportunities presented by emerging markets.

On consolidation, Ghosn spoke about the major forces that are creating the next wave of tie-ups among the automakers. First, if manufacturers are to develop the vast and complex range of technologies that are required to be legally compliant (emission regulations etc) and be appealing to consumers, footing that investment bill across the largest scale will inevitably drive competitiveness.

On Tuesday, May 25th Alliance Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, will be appearing at the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, MI. The event, which takes place at midday at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, will be a discussion on topics  including the consolidation trends of the global auto industry, the growth and importance of emerging markets, the outlook for the industry post-crisis and the development of electric vehicles and their role in the future of mobility.

The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) was formed in 1934 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to the discussion and debate of important business, government and social issues. The DEC continues to provide a platform for distinguished international dignitaries and business leaders, who represent the changing global environment.  The DEC is proud to have hosted every sitting U.S. President since Richard Nixon.