According to reports, informed sources have revealed that Renault is open to negotiating a merger between Nissan and Honda, and Renault is also seeking ways to protect itself from the impact of the Nissan crisis.

The above-mentioned insider revealed that Renault itself is not willing to invest in Nissan, so the company hopes that Nissan can find ways to enhance its strength. Insiders emphasized that Renault holds 36% of Nissan's shares and is still Nissan's largest shareholder, so Renault's attitude will be the key to Nissan reaching any agreement.

Insiders said that although Renault is open to deals that could make Nissan stronger in principle, the company will closely evaluate the offers received by Nissan to protect its interests. However, negotiations between Nissan and Honda are still in the early stages. A Renault spokesperson declined to comment on this report.

At present, car manufacturers are facing increasingly severe challenges, including the declining demand for electric vehicles in the European market and fierce competition from Chinese car manufacturers led by BYD. The speed of transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles varies in different markets, and this transformation is disrupting decades old production and business models.

Earlier this year, Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance and Renault Chairman Jean Dominique Senard stated that Renault would welcome any new partnership that could make alliance members stronger. Even if it needs to sell its shares, this French manufacturer will benefit from the rise in Nissan's stock price.

According to Bloomberg's report, Nissan's stock price rose by 24% on December 18th, Renault's stock price increased by 7.4% at one point, while Honda's stock price fell by 3%. Despite this, Nissan's stock price has still fallen by about a quarter this year, while Renault's stock price has risen by 28%.

In early November, Nissan significantly lowered its profit forecast and stated that it would have to lay off 9000 employees worldwide. The company also announced a 20% reduction in global production due to consumer disinterest in its product line.