Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Opens R&D Center in Shanghai

Renault and Nissan, two leading automotive companies which are part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance have opened a new research and development center named Alliance Innovation Lab Shanghai in Shanghai, China. Both the partners have an equal 50 percent stake in this joint venture which will engage in research and development related to autonomous vehicle technology, connected vehicles and electric vehicles. The technologies which are developed by this innovation hub are likely to be used in Renault and Nissan vehicles which are sold in China and across the globe.

Commenting on this development, Takao Asami, Alliance SVP, Research and Advanced Engineering said that China is not only the biggest automotive market in the world but is also at the forefront of research into  new technologies that can transform the face of future mobility. Hence, from a strategic perspective, it was important for the Alliance to have a development hub in this market, where the Alliance has sold more vehicles than in any other market in 2018. The knowledge and skills gained at the center will be used not just in China but on a global basis, thus contributing to the ambitious goals set as part of the Alliance 2022 mid-term plan.

Kenju Kobayashi, the Alliance Global Director responsible for the AIL-SH, said that Shanghai is a leading hub for innovation in China for automotive related technologies and across a range of industries. By serving as a place where the talents of the Alliance will be used in combination with the expertise found in Shanghai and across China, the Alliance will be able to aggressively pursue open innovation that will transcend industry boundaries and thus rapidly develop technologies which can drive the business growth of the Alliance members.

As part of the Alliance 2022 mid-term plan, 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles are slated to make their debut by 2022, and 40 vehicles with different levels of autonomy will be launched while units made by Alliance members will account for 90 percent of vehicles of the connected cars globally. The plan also includes a commitment to operating robo-vehicle ride-hailing mobility services.