It's funny how Renault owns more of Nissan

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone) 01/08/2016 at 15:29 • Filed to: None

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...than Nissan owns of Renault, yet Renault isn’t using Nissan’s dealer network and logistic base to land in the US again.

I’d rock this so hard.

This too.

And this.

djmt1 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 15:34

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Yeah but 102% of Renault’s range are Small FWD Hatchbacks/Estates usually powered by diesels with manuals. Not exactly a popular segment Stateside.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > djmt1 01/08/2016 at 15:41

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The same goes for Fiat, Mini or Mitsubishi.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 15:51

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Are Fiat and Mini doing okay over here? I feel like I'm seeing a lot of Fiats and Minis around more often.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 15:53

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I’d even rock an Espace

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 15:54

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Probably because US laws suck and US car buyers are lame.

daender > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 15:55

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Probably because Renault doesn’t think the sales will justify the costs of developing their current platforms to meet US safety and emissions regulations. Also, I don’t recall the last US-sold Renault being all that good.

The only thing Fuego about it was either the owner’s head on fire in rage of its breakdowns or the engine blowing up and catching fire.

Probenja > djmt1 01/08/2016 at 15:59

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They do have a couple of sedans:

(although the top one is a rebadged renault-samsung)

And a couple of trucks:

(although they are rebadged nissan/dacia)

MultiplaOrgasms > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 16:04

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1) MINIs and Fiats US offerings are primarily fashion items, 103% of their appeal comes from the cuteness and chic of the cars. Also neither of them sells down to earth, purely functional and non-fashionable cars there unless badly disguised as a fashion item.

2) lol Mitsubishi

MultiplaOrgasms > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/08/2016 at 16:08

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Don’t. The pedals are positioned in such a way that makes it impossible to accelerate painlessly.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 16:36

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Well they kind of are selling Renaults through Nissan.

The Nissan Versa, Cube, Juke and Micra share variations of their B/C platforms with Renault (which started out as the platform for the Renault Megane):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_B_…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_C_…

And the Nissan Rogue and upcoming Juke using the CMS platform:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault%E…

Bringing Renaults over to North America would just mean Nissan-Renault would be competing with itself mostly except where trucks are concerned.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > MultiplaOrgasms 01/08/2016 at 16:43

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I don’t think that passing any French thing as a fancy, fashion item in America, is that hard. In the eyes of most Americans, France undoubfuly rules fashion and sophistication with its chic and prêt-à-porter and art and food and wine and cidre and all that.

Renault already has a sensual and upscale design, so they could market themselves as a sophisticated and artistic brand.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/08/2016 at 17:14

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Some parts may be shared, but the cars are totally different. Renault could cater to those who want a European car, but don’t want to pay for a German price tag or wait forever for more mainstream Fiats and Alfa Romeo’s.

Textured Soy Protein > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 17:26

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Because the last time Renault tried to enter the US market through a partnership with another manufacturer with an established presence here went swimmingly .

Amoore100 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 01/08/2016 at 17:35

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Yeah, it would be the perfect alternative to the other pseudo minivans we have here like the oversized Traverse and Highlander, with more of the usability of an actual van (because it is one) and better fuel economy (because it's European)

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Textured Soy Protein 01/08/2016 at 17:41

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I’m not talking about badge engineering or Nissan America taking the lead in development of Renault models. I’m only talking about Renault using Nissan’s distribution network, offices and if it all works out, some production capacity.

Renault could perfectly fit between Nissan and Infiniti, in the showroom of many urban or costal dealers.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 17:43

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I think if they were to bring something Euro over, they’d be better off bringing some dirt-cheap Dacias over... at least then it wouldn’t compete directly with what Nissan is already selling.

jkm7680 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 17:43

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Renault makes good cars.

Nissan makes (mostly) poo poo cars.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > daender 01/08/2016 at 17:48

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Times changed. Since then, the Renault-Nissan Aliance happened. The French learned from the Japanese how to make reliable cars in an efficient way, and the Japanese learned from the French how to design cars that look like more than milk cartons on wheels.

MultiplaOrgasms > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 17:54

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While the current Renaults feel somewhat sophisticated (torsion beams yo), their design language is quite possibly the most conservative and boring in years.

Amoore100 > Textured Soy Protein 01/08/2016 at 17:56

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IIRC that was because Renault didn’t have the best reliability or rustproofing and many of the later models were introduced when the oil crisis was over. Nowadays fuel economy is always important, and I’m sure Nissan has helped Renault improve quality massively on many fronts; it’s really no different than Fiat when it tried to come here besides the fact that Renault doesn’t have quite as iconic a car to sell to the American public as the 500. I for one would really love a Talisman wagon though. Classy as hell.

daender > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 17:58

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Times may have changed, but Americans love bringing up the past. Renault will have a huge uphill battle to convince US buyers to trust their quality and value over other offerings.

Textured Soy Protein > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 18:20

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What I mean is, what you’re describing isn’t all that different from the Renault-AMC deal back in the day.

Leon711 > djmt1 01/08/2016 at 18:33

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Twingo is RWD foo!

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Textured Soy Protein 01/08/2016 at 18:46

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Except the Renault-Nissan alliance is based on a lot more than a deal to sell a bunch of cars.

You have production synergies, stock, management and corporate culture exchange and a single CEO.

The Nissan Pulsar hatchback was developed with assistance from Renault.

And the production version of the Sway concept will be based the yellow Renault Clio, and will be built in France, by Renault.

Ironically, France is also the source of some batches of the American spec. Toyota Yaris.

Textured Soy Protein > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 19:09

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Renault owned a bunch of AMC shares and the Renaults sold in America were Renault designs built in AMC factories. I’m not saying it’s identical, but there’s definitely some similarities. But the cars were crap so when people think Renault their reaction is either “what’s a Renault” or “the Alliance was a POS.”

Both Renault and Nissan are, in their own way, “commodity” type cars. Renault-Nissan has its bases pretty well covered here in the US with Nissan and they (probably correctly) don’t believe there’s a solid business case for bringing the Renault brand here.

NJAnon > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 01/08/2016 at 20:18

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While I agree there is some that will try to “hark back to what happened decades ago”, I think the issue of competing brands is probably part of the reason. Considering the US does need some variety vehicle wise, it sucks that Renault & Nissan are stuck. How can you straddle both brands in one market?

Ask Honda & Toyota about branching their brand and what could happen long term. :P