Corporate espionage at Renault may impact Nissan

Renault Nissan alliance logo

Renault uses Nissan battery technology

Not long ago, we wrote about the Renault-Nissan corporate alliance that has served both companies well for the past twenty years. Some cracks may have just formed in that alliance.

According to Renault, three high level Renault executives, one of which whom served on Renault’s management committee, have been the subject of a month’s long investigation. This investigation determined the dissemination of information deemed to be “strategic, intellectual and technological assets” according to Christian Husson, Renault’s head of legal and ethical affairs. All three have been suspended. According to Husson’s statement:

Renault decided to take action because  these are serious acts concerning people with extremely strategic  positions at the Group.  Their acts justify this suspension, the first aim of which is  to immediately protect the strategic, intellectual and technological assets of our company. In accordance with labor laws Renault will preserve the identity of the three persons concerned. The investigation is underway. We are examining all legal options, which will inevitably result in legal action.

How could this impact Nissan? According to those familiar with the situation, and France’s industry minister, the leaks pertain to electric vehicle technology. A Nissan executive had this to say:

“Whatever they leaked, it’s ours,” said the Nissan executive, who declined to be identified. “They don’t have their own lithium-ion battery technology. We serve all of their battery technology needs, and we are their supplier of battery cells and packs.”

Additional source material from the Wall Street Journal

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