Renault and Nissan are letting go of their common purchasing organization in favor of a new, project-by-project set-up, a sign the carmakers are growing further apart after striking a broader deal to rebalance their troubled alliance.
The French carmaker has briefed employees on how roles previously linked to the alliance will change, Renault said in an emailed statement. By the end of the year, the alliance’s common purchasing organization — viewed as one of the most successful elements of what otherwise turned out to be a fraught relationship — will evolve into distinct teams focused on specific projects, Renault said.
The new setup reflects Renault’s efforts to grow more independent from its Japanese partner after years of tensions within the alliance. CEO Luca de Meo has been revamping the French carmaker’s corporate structure to better manage the industry’s costly shift to electric vehicles while bolstering profits.