On March 27, 1999, automakers Nissan and Renault formed an alliance, with Renault buying 36.8% of Nissan’s outstanding stock. The two companies had struggled to find their footing throughout the decade prior, with Renault undergoing privatization in 1996 after more than a half century of ownership by the French government and Nissan facing significant outstanding debts and a declining reputation. Little did they know, Lebanese-French-Brazilian businessman and real life Mr. Bean Carlos Ghosn and his posse in the board of directors have a plan to seize the reins of this new alliance and steer these very different megacorporations through their growing pains toward profitability. At the same time, the old guard at the two companies value the brands they have built and are hesitant to change too much too quickly. Both sides are willing to take drastic measures for their vision of the new Alliance to prevail. The fate of Nissan-Renault is anybody’s guess, but you don’t need to be a business mastermind to know that betrayal, deceit, and a lot of very ugly cars lay on the road ahead…
