The French and Japanese automakers have already saved more than three billion euros (~$3.38 billion USD) in 2014 through shared development costs and other synergies. CEO Carlos Ghosn suggests the number will continue to grow, even without inviting other automakers to join the alliance, according to a Reuters report.
The alliance, which also includes Daimler and Mitsubishi, is said to be working on 13 collaborative projects, with the aim of saving 4.3 billion euros (~$4.83 billion USD) annually by 2016.
“I don’t have to go beyond the boundary of what I’m doing to be competitive; I can understand other people would have to,” Ghosn said, poking a bit of fun about Marchionne’s well-publicized quest to find a buyer.
The Renault-Nissan alliance and the Fiat-Chrysler merger were borne of necessity, saving the Japanese and American automakers from bankruptcy, however most automakers appear to be reluctant to engage in another round of consolidation in the current boom times.
Marchionne’s pleas so far have been met with little interest. The outspoken executive is said to have been rebuffed by Ford, General Motors, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Toyota.
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