June 16, 2025 – On Monday, the Nikkei Business Daily reported that Nissan Motor Co.’s CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has announced the company’s intention to reduce its stake in its French partner, Renault SA.
Based on the current stock prices, selling the entirety of Nissan’s 5% shareholding in Renault could potentially raise approximately 100 billion yen. Nissan aims to channel these funds into research and development for new vehicle models, especially amidst a challenging business landscape.
This move follows the recent revision of the “New Alliance Agreement” between the two automakers in April. As part of that revision, the minimum cross-shareholding threshold was lowered from 15% to 10%.
Under the terms of the previous agreement, Nissan was relieved of its obligation to invest in Renault’s electric vehicle division, Ampere, and was granted the flexibility to decrease its stake in Renault through a coordinated process.
Espinosa had earlier emphasized that this strategic decision is aimed at establishing a more agile business model that can swiftly adapt to market dynamics, while also securing funds for future investment opportunities.
