Quote Of The Day: Ghosn Down Memory Lane Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

“Without any doubt we knew fundamentally that [a merger with GM] would work, but only if it was a collaborative effort. Frankly, there was a possibility to create something that would be extremely competitive… unfortunately, it did not happen.”

Nissan/Renault honcho Carlos Ghosn reflects on the GM merger that might have been. When asked if he was happy that the merger hadn’t gone through, Ghosn replied “when you see the disaster and the waste of energy and skills and talent, nobody can be happy.” But was he talking about GM or the failure to merge with them? And since Ghosn has us in a reflective mood, isn’t it fun to imagine how a GM-Renault/Nissan merger might have played out?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • CyCarConsulting CyCarConsulting on Nov 19, 2009

    It would have ended up like Packard/ Studebaker,... not Sloan/Kettering

  • PeteMoran PeteMoran on Nov 19, 2009

    The auto manufacturing world needs closures, not mergers.

  • Pista Pista on Nov 20, 2009

    On another planet it might've been a brilliant move. Renault-Nissan could've given GM the great little cars it needed and GM could've given R-N... um.... Well, it doesn't really matter. It's far too late now back on Earth.

  • Mattstairs Mattstairs on Nov 20, 2009

    Fascinating to read the comments in that linked TTAC article. No wonder GMAC had to be bailed out, and no wonder the housing bubble popped.

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