Tuesday 12 February 2019 11:30 am | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 1:18 am

Renault and Nissan executives to meet as Ghosn scandal shakes car manufacturer alliance

Executives from car manufacturers Nissan and Renault will meet to discuss the future of their alliance amid the scandal surrounding former chairman Carlos Ghosn, the Japanese firm has said.

Renault’s newly-appointed chairman, Jean-Dominique Senard, will meet Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa in Yokohama this week in a bid to secure the ties between the two companies.

“Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa is eager to familiarise Senard with Nissan and alliance operations to optimise their work together,” the Japanese company said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Earlier today Saikawa said Nissan is looking to build bridges with its alliance partner. Relations between the companies have been strained since Ghosn, who led both firms, was arrested in Tokyo on charges of financial misconduct.

“First of all, we have to restore trust and stabilise the relationship,” Saikawa told reporters, according to local media.

Last week it emerged lawyers for the two companies have been locked in a bitter war of words since the Ghosn scandal began in November.

Lawyers for the French company have questioned Nissan’s commitment to the alliance, while Nissan has hit back with accusations that Renault has not fully cooperated with the investigation into Ghosn, the Financial Times reported.

But executives from the two firms will now meet in a bid to salvage the alliance, which also counts Mitsubishi as a member. Senard will visit Nissan’s Japanese headquarters for two days from 14 February, local media reported.

Today Renault said that while Ghosn has stepped down as chairman and chief executive, he remains a director at the French firm.

Thierry Bollore, formerly chief operating officer, has taken over as chief executive, while Michelin boss Senard has filled the chairman role.

Ghosn remains in custody in Tokyo on charges including underreporting his salary and transferring personal losses to Nissan. He had previously denied all charges against him.