Construction of the first Nissan ZEOD RC chassis is nearing completion, and the ground-breaking car that will "electrify Le Mans" is set to hit the track for the first time in the UK in early September.

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.

Thank you, Dr. Zetsche… and good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

The famous German philosopher Georg Hegel once said: “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”