APAC Dealbook: Alliance backs Tekion; Motorist.sg snags funds

January 21, 2019 The corporate venture capital fund of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has backed automotive retail platform Tekion while Singapore’s auto concierge platform Motorist.sg secures seed funding. Alliance Ventures backs platform for automotive retail Tekion Alliance Ventures, the corporate venture capital fund of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, has announced an investment in Tekion, a US-based platform for automotive retail, according to… Continue reading APAC Dealbook: Alliance backs Tekion; Motorist.sg snags funds

Nissan, Renault not ready to discuss new capital ties: Saikawa

TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan CEO Hirota Saikawa said on Monday that he had not heard directly about a reported French proposal to integrate the Japanese carmaker’s management with Renault, adding that it was not the time to discuss revising the partners’ capital ties. FILE PHOTO: Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa attends a… Continue reading Nissan, Renault not ready to discuss new capital ties: Saikawa

European power firms aim to harness electric car batteries

FRANKFURT/LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) – Ever wanted to run your electric car for free? If you’re open to a bit of give and take, then stay plugged in and your wishes might come true. At least that’s what some European power companies and Japanese carmakers believe. FILE PHOTO: A charging port is shown on the front of… Continue reading European power firms aim to harness electric car batteries

Hoping to get bail, Carlos Ghosn pledges to return his passports

After spending more than two months behind bars Kosuge Prison North of Tokyo, Carlos Ghosn goes, this Monday, try again to get him released on bail . And to convince the judges, who had denied him this last week, he pledged, through his lawyers, to fully respect the particularly strict conditions of a possible conditional… Continue reading Hoping to get bail, Carlos Ghosn pledges to return his passports

The true story of Carlos Ghosn

“The work of mourning is long enough. Two months after the spectacular arrest of Carlos Ghosn in Tokyo, the staff of Renault is struggling to cash, blows a source close to power. Before acceptance, there is stupor, denial, anger, trembling and depression. Normal to go through it, “Mr. Ghosn” crushed everyone since his takeover at… Continue reading The true story of Carlos Ghosn

Nissan CEO says new capital ties with Renault not discussed

TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan CEO Hirota Saikawa told reporters on Monday that he had not heard directly about a reported French proposal to integrate Nissan’s management with France’s Renault, adding that it was not the stage to discuss revising their capital ties. FILE PHOTO: Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa attends a news… Continue reading Nissan CEO says new capital ties with Renault not discussed

Carlos Ghosn makes new request for bail, offering up passports and Nissan stock as collateral

Takashi Aoyama | Getty Images
Pedestrians walk past a big screen showing images of Former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn in a news program on Jan. 8, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.

Jailed former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is staging a new bid to be granted bail, offering to meet greater restrictions and higher guarantees that include posting his Nissan stock as collateral.

Since he was arrested on November 21st, Ghosn has been detained in a Japanese jail, and has not been allowed to have direct contact with his family. Although he strongly denies the allegations made against him, he remains incarcerated while awaiting trial on charges he committed financial crimes while serving as CEO of Nissan.

In a court petition for his latest bail hearing, the 64 year-old says he is willing to pay a higher amount for bail, surrender his passports, and pay additional costs for security — if that is what the court requires as terms of being released from detention.

“As the Court considers my bail application, I want to emphasize that I will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the Court concludes are warranted,” Ghosn wrote in a statement released shortly before his latest bail hearing in Tokyo on Monday.

“I will attend my trial not only because I am legally obligated to do so, but because I am eager to finally have the opportunity to defend myself,” said Ghosn. “I am not guilty of the charges against me and I look forward to defending my reputation in the courtroom; nothing is more important to me or to my family.”

Fmr. Nissan CEO Ghosn to request bail from Japanese court
7:11 AM ET Fri, 11 Jan 2019 | 02:39

Ghosn's latest bail hearing comes exactly two months after he was detained by Japanese authorities who were investigating allegations Ghosn and another Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, did not disclose the full amount of Ghosn's compensation over several years.

Last week, a judge in Tokyo denied Ghosn's request for bail, clearing the way for him to potentially remain in jail until March 10th. Ghosn is appealing that ruling, and has amended his request for bail by offering new guarantees to the Japanese court. Among the guarantees Ghosn is willing to meet:

Live at a private apartment in TokyoPay a higher amount for bail and, if requested by the court, submit his shares in Nissan as collateral.

In addition, the former Nissan CEO says he is willing to report on a daily basis to prosecutors, surrender his passports, wear an electronic ankle-bracelet monitoring device and pay for court-approved security guards to monitor his whereabouts.

At a bail hearing earlier this month, Ghosn spoke publicly for the first time about his detention, and denied the charges against him. “I have been wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations,” Ghosn told the judge at his hearing on January 7th.

Last week, Ghosn's wife Carole released a letter she sent to Human Rights Watch, decrying the harsh treatment he husband faces while detained and being investigated.

“For hours each day, the prosecutors interrogate him, browbeat him, lecture him, and berate him, outside the presence of his attorneys, in an effort to extract a confession. No human being should be detained under conditions so harsh that their only plausible purpose is to coerce a confession,” she wrote.

Renault-Nissan merger ‘not on the table’: French minister

CAIRO: French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sunday dismissed talk of a merger between Renault and Nissan, despite Japanese media reports that France was pushing for it. Le Maire’s remarks were made during his visit to Cairo. Earlier on Sunday, Japanese media said France wants a merger between Renault and Nissan following the arrest… Continue reading Renault-Nissan merger ‘not on the table’: French minister

Paris informs Tokyo it wants Renault and Nissan to integrate: Nikkei

The logos of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan are seen in front of a common dealership of the companies in Saint-Avold, France, January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann TOKYO (Reuters) – A French government delegation has informed Tokyo that it would seek an integration of Renault (RENA.PA) and Nissan (7201.T), most likely under the umbrella of… Continue reading Paris informs Tokyo it wants Renault and Nissan to integrate: Nikkei