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Nissan reportedly rejecting Renault proposal for closer ties

TOKYO — Nissan Motor Co Ltd will reject a management integration proposal from French partner Renault SA and will call for an equal capital relationship, the Nikkei newspaper said on Monday, citing sources. Nissan's management feels the Japanese company has not been treated as an equal of Renault under existing capital ties, and a merger would make this inequality permanent, the Nikkei reported. The outlook for the alliance — one of the world's top automaking partnerships — has been in focus since the arrest in November of its main architect, Carlos Ghosn, on charges of financial misconduct. The former Nissan and Renault chairman has denied the charges against him and has said he was the victim of a boardroom coup by Nissan executives opposed to closer ties. To which, Bloomberg reported that it has seen emails in which Nissan executives were working with Japanese government officials to defend the company's independence, as Ghosn was pushing for a full merger. The emails indicate growing concern at high levels of the Japanese government, in the months before Ghosn's arrest, that his merger efforts would boost Renault and its largest shareholder, the French government, and harm Nissan, in a relationship the Japanese already saw as lopsided. The emails indicated a desire to keep the existing structure of the alliance with a "re-balancing of the shareholding" to reduce Renault's 43 percent stake in Nissan, and stated that Nissan's independence "should be respected." Nissan declined to comment directly on the emails, while reiterating that misconduct by Ghosn and his former aide, Greg Kelly, is "the sole cause of the chain of events." Renault saved Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy two decades ago and under their current capital alliance, the French company holds greater control over its much larger partner. Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa declined to say whether the company had received a merger proposal from Renault. "Now is not the time to think of such things," he told a group of reporters outside of his house in Tokyo. "At the moment we are focused on improving Nissan's earnings performance. Please give us time to do that." Renault declined to comment on the report. Renault has argued in its proposal that an integration would maximize synergies within the French-Japanese alliance, according to the Nikkei. The Financial Times reported last month of Renault's intention to restart merger talks with Nissan within 12 months.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi adopts Android infotainment in coup for Google

PARIS — The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi carmaking alliance said on Tuesday it will adopt Alphabet's Google Android operating system, handing a victory to the U.S. tech giant as it pushes for a bigger share of the infotainment market. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, with combined sales of 10.6 million vehicles last year, said future models will "integrate Google applications and services" including Maps and the voice-commanded Google Assistant. The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, leans more heavily on Big Tech than large or luxury rival carmakers have hitherto been willing to do. Many fear losing control of customer relationships, data and potentially significant future revenue from connected services. Some smaller manufacturers such as Volvo Cars have decided to embed Android Auto in their vehicles. But the scale of the shift by Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi may cause a broader rethink of costly standalone tech strategies. "Major carmakers earlier were reluctant to do business with Google, but this has now changed," said Jauke de Jong, a research analyst at AFS Group in Amsterdam. "More carmakers could follow suit and partner with Google." Until now, carmakers have largely chosen Linux, Microsoft or QNX software to power infotainment. That yields clunkier platforms they can control, but which offer little scope to add new apps or functionality. Far more than just hooking up a phone The news may spell trouble for certain existing auto-tech suppliers such as mapping specialist TomTom, which counts Renault among its customers. Shares in the Dutch group fell by more than quarter after the announcement. In return for handing Google the infotainment keys, the alliance will bring the full clout of Android's thousands of apps to its brands' lineups — which include a strong contingent of affordably priced, no-frills models for emerging markets. The partnership promises "rich user experiences that are currently available only outside the vehicle or, to a limited extent, by connecting an Android device to supported vehicles," alliance development chief Hadi Zablit said. While many volume carmakers offer infotainment "mirroring" to pair with Apple iPhones or Android smartphones, premium rivals such as BMW and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz are investing heavily in their own operating systems, vocal assistants and connected services.

Mitsubishi drops two more teasers of new Outlander

Mitsubishi just keeps teasing the debut of the refreshed 2016 Outlander at the 2015 New York Auto Show on April 2. The Japanese brand already hinted at the updated CUV's look on the company's invitation to the event in the Big Apple. Now, it released an even clearer view of the front and the first official look at the crossover's rear. Debuting Mitsubishi's new design language, a shot of an Outlander waiting at port already revealed its new nose completely undisguised. The brand's latest teaser provides yet another glimpse at it and further confirms the X-shaped front end that's outlined in chrome. As with the rest of the updated styling, the rear also adapts the look of last year's Concept-S. The taillights are still separated into three bars, but here they stop at the tailgate in the center, rather than running all the way across like on the show car. Beyond just the refreshed styling, the 2016 Outlander has over 100 improvements, according to Mitsubishi, including NHV refinements, better handling and improved throttle response. We will get the full details about all of the tweaks in New York in just a few days. Related Video: MITSUBISHI MOTORS TO CONDUCT WORLD PREMIERE OF 2016 OUTLANDER AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is pleased to announce that it will make the world premiere of the 2016 Outlander during its press conference at the 2015 New York International Auto Show in the North Hall (booth 260) on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 11:30a.m. ET. The 2016 Outlander will be the first Mitsubishi vehicle to debut the brand's new design language. The 2016 Outlander is a refined crossover utility vehicle that features over 100 engineering and design improvements including a new, powerful and dynamic appearance, enhanced road performance as the result of improvements to noise levels, ride, handling and throttle response, and a more eloquent yet functional interior space. The new 2016 Outlander demonstrates the brand's renewed emphasis on style, refinement and overall driving experience. For those who are unable to join Mitsubishi Motors in New York, the press conference will be internationally broadcast live. For details about the webcast please check media.mitsubishicars.com. Full 2016 Outlander details will be released at 11:30a.m. ET on April 2, 2015. About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.