Nissan pres. hints at forming 4-way alliance

January 17, 2018

Detroit- Nissan Motor Co. President Hiroto Saikawa suggested Tuesday that the Japanese automaker eyes a possibility of developing its alliance with France's Renault SA and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. into a four-way alliance.

But he stopped short of referring to the name of a prospective new partner.

At an automobile industry event in Detroit, Saikawa stressed an alliance of companies "works." Nissan climbed out of financial difficulties under its tie-up with Renault.

Underscoring the price competitiveness and the big presence in the Asian markets of Mitsubishi, which joined the Nissan-Renault group in 2016, Saikawa said he hopes to prove in the first place that the three-way alliance is better than the two-way partnership.

Once the tripartite alliance is on track, "the door to a four-way alliance will open," he said. "We are extremely flexible." Jiji Press