2007 Interactive Registration Document - Renault

01 THE
RENAULT AND THE GROUP
RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE
1.3.1.2 RENAULT’S MAJOR BENEFITS
FROM THE ALLIANCE
The conclusion of the Alliance with Nissan accelerated Renault’s development
into a worldwide group. Since the agreements were signed, Nissan has
experienced a remarkable fi nancial recovery and Renault has strengthened
the foundations of its operational performance as well as its geographical
footprint.
In 2007, the cooperation took further signifi cant steps forward in several
areas:
IN ENGINEERING
n Renault is capitalizing on Nissan’s acknowledged expertise in 4x4 designs.
Nissan actively participated in the development of the cross-over vehicle,
styled and defi ned by Renault and that is built by Renault Sa msung in
Korea. It was shown as the Koleos concept vehicle at the Paris motor
show in September 2006 with sales starting in Korea as the QM5 from
December 2007 and in Europe as the Koleos from the second quarter of
2008;
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This concept of co-development and sharing of tasks among three companies
from bac kgrounds and cultures as radically different as those found in
France, Japan and Korea, is an exciting challenge for the Alliance as well
as a demanding exercise in multicultural management. Co-development is
one of the Alliance’s most valuable assets, as it rises to the challenges of
globalization;
In Chennai, India, the Alliance is creating a new technology and business
center. The Renault Nissan Technology and Business Center India Private
Limited (RNTBCI) will be structured as a 50-50 joint venture between both
Alliance partners. It is designed to support a wide range of engineering and
business services for Renault and Nissan facilities around the world. When
completed, the new business center will provide services including product
and manufacturing engineering, purchasing, design, cost management and
information systems development. In 2010, RNTBCI is expected to have a
workforce of more than 1,500 employees;
In Pune, India, a delegation from Renault and Nissan visited the Bajaj Auto
Chakan plant to further review the proposed project for an ultra low-cost car
with Bajaj, and studies are ongoing;
In Russia, the partnership with AvtoVAZ will benefi t the Alliance in many
areas. It will significantly contribute to enhancing the Renault-Nissan
Alliance’s competitive position in the Russian market, as well as opening
new development opportunities for component sharing activities or utilizing
their capacity.
IN POWERTRAINS
n A new Alliance diesel engine was unveiled at the Renault booth at 2007
Frankfurt motor show as the “V6 dCi Concept”. This new engine, with
several power output levels, will be available on Laguna III and Renault’s
high end vehicles of the future, as well as Nissan models. It was announced in
September that it will be used on Nissan Maxima in the USA in 2010. The new
2,993 cc block is derived from the M1D Alliance diesel engine, with which it
shares 25% of its components. The engine has been designed so as to be
particularly compact, in order to be installed in the engine compartment of
Laguna III whilst also meeting regulatory requirements related to pedestrian
protection. This new V6 engine develops a power output of 195 kW (265 hp),
a wide range of engine speeds peaking at 5,200 rpm and a punchy maximum
torque of 550 Nm at 1,750 rpm, V6 dCi Concept complies with Euro 6 and
US standards;
Adding to the existing applications to Nissan models in Europe, the fi rst
Alliance-developed diesel engine (M1D) will make its debut also in Japan
on the Nissan X-TRAIL from the fall of 2008.
IN MANUFACTURING
n Quality assessment processes have gained from expert input from Nissan
and the exchange of best practices that have since been incorporated in the
Renault Production Way (SPR). Nissan helped considerably with the upgrading
of the Renault plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, in readiness for the launch in
2007 of the new Twingo;
In Curitiba, Brazil, production of the Nissan Aprio, a subcompact car for the
Mexican market based on the Renault Logan began at the passenger car
plant;
In Johannesburg, South Africa, Renault announced that a new hatchback
model named Sandero will be introduced in 2009. Sandero will compete in
the AB segment and will provide the South African public with a big-size car
of 4.02 metres in length at a small price. It will be produced locally in the
Nissan plant in Rosslyn from early 2009;
In Tangier, Morroco, the Alliance and the Kingdom of Morocco will develop
one of the largest vehicle manufacturing facilities in the Mediterranean with
an eventual capacity of 400,000 vehicles a year; initial planned capacity
is 200,000 a year from 2010. Planned investments are estimated at
€600 million, with an initial phase of €350 million;
This will create a strategic global base within the Alliance’s manufacturing
system. It will be managed by Renault, and produce vehicles derived from
the Logan platform and Nissan’s system for the production of new-generation
light commercial vehicles. 90% of these vehicles would be exported;
Almost 6,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs will be created, making the
Renault-Nissan Alliance one of the principal employers in the Tangier region.
Further investment has been committed by the Alliance to train and support
the skills and educational development of its local employees.
AND FOR SHAREHOLDERS
n Renault is creating value for its shareholders: both Renault and Nissan have
increased their base of international investors attracted by the success of the
Alliance and its outlook. Their share prices have risen signifi cantly during the
eight years of the Alliance, with a 150% increase for Renault and a 172%
increase for Nissan. During the same period, i.e. since March 29, 1999, the
CAC 40 and Nikkei 225 indexes gained only 36% and 8% respectively. Over
the same period, Renault’s market capitalization has more than tripled,
growing from €8.4 billion when the Alliance agreement was signed to
€27.6 billion on December 31, 2007. On this measure, Renault now ranks
sixth, compared with its eleventh-place ranking at the beginning of 1999.
26 Registration Document Renault 2007
Find out more at www.renault.com
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