There are more and more rumors that the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance will have to undertake a series of radical reforms to ensure its survival during the current crisis. Even though the specific details of the group’s plans will not be known until the end of May, it has been known for some time that the different brands that comprise it will carry out a territorial redistribution and expand their joint developments to reduce costs.
Thus, in Europe, the brand that will carry the singing voice will be Renault, while Mitsubishi will abandon the old continent. For its part, Nissan will only maintain its SUV range (Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail) and its electric models (LEAF, Ariya …). On the contrary, in the United States, the Japanese brand will redouble its efforts, with the support of its Infiniti premium division and a range of commercial vehicles maade up of logotype versions of the Renault Kangoo, Trafic, and Master. Mitsubishi will also initially leave North America.
In South America, both Renault and Nissan will maintain their presence, while Mitsubishi could see its range reduced to SUVs and pick-ups. In Russia, the brands Renault, Lada (belonging to Renault), and Nissan would continue, while Mitsubishi would again see its offer to SUV reduced. In China, the preeminent brand will be Nissan, while Renault will only sell electric cars and vans. Mitsubishi will also only have SUVs in its Chinese range.
South Korea will be the territory of Renault and its subsidiary Samsung, also offering some relegated Nissan and Mitsubishi models. Nissan, for its part, will withdraw from India, a market in which both Renault and Mitsubishi will remain. In the rest of Asia (that is, excluding China, South Korea, and India), Renault will withdraw, being the exclusive territory of Nissan and Mitsubishi. However, it will be the latter brand that will focus more on these markets, as Nissan will place greater emphasis in China and Japan. In the Middle East and Africa, Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi will continue to coexist as before.
Some sources point out that each of the members of the Alliance will specialize in one field. Thus, Mitsubishi will be responsible for the development of the group’s plug-in hybrids, while Renault will do the same with electric cars. However, some sources assure that synergies will go one step further.
In some specialized forums, the rumor has leaked that the Alliance will develop a family of sedans in the D segment (Renault Talisman, Nissan Altima, Mitsubishi Galant, Samsung SM6 …), which will share both the monocoque and all its technology (engines, assistants driving, etc.), differing only in purely aesthetic aspects.
This same information indicates that these vehicles will have 100% electric versions. However, it is not clear if they will be simple adaptations of the thermal models, or if they will be more differentiated (in which case they could make use of the CMF-EV electric modular platform).