| Carlos Ghosn, who plays as chief executive of both Renault SA and its partner Nissan Motor Co Ltd, plans to keep both executive positions at the joined automakers, he said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday according to Kevin Krolicki reporting for Reuters. "I don't have the intention to do this. It doesn't only depend on me. It depends on the shareholders. It's up to them to decide whether they want the same CEO for the two companies or they want two CEOs," says Ghosn in an interview with business network CNBC. According to the , Ghosn's remarks earlier this month had been understood as an indication Renault-Nissan might come back to a previous management arrangement with separate chief executives. The Renault-Nissan alliance, which was established back in 1999, had split CEOs for the two well known companies until 2005 when Ghosn, who was then head of Nissan, took control of the CEO position at Renault as well. Ghosn also stated that he anticipated more unity in the international auto industry next to the conditions of bending requirements in the United States, which is the largest single market for new vehicle sales for passenger cars, SUVs and pickup truck with splendid . "I think everything indicates that we are moving toward more consolidation. There is no doubt about it. How is it going to happen? Who is going to move? That is very difficult to predict," Ghosn said. "But, fundamentally, the elements that we are seeing point toward more consolidation." Ghosn refused to say whether Renault-Nissan was fascinated in obtaining Chrysler LLC. Nissan has hit a product join venture with Chrysler in which the Japanese carmakers will manufacture a small car for Chrysler and the resisting U.S. auto manufacturer will build the next-generation full-size truck with great for Nissan group. "There is a lot of speculation, but you have to be prudent," stated Ghosn in the taped interview with CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo. Nissan has predicted a decrease of approximately 30 percent in earnings in 2008, pulled down by a feeble dollar, high product prices and a continuing soft U.S. demand. "Everybody is talking about a 30 percent drop in profit because, fundamentally, the outside events are hitting Japanese car makers at the same level. Everybody is in the same ball game. Now, I hope these forecasts are going to end up being very conservative, but we're going to have to wait and see," Ghosn added. |
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