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| Renault and Nissan CEOs Louis Schweitzer and Yoshikazu Hanawa unveil the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Tokyo, Japan. |
Obviously the French company's association with Nissan opens up a vast dealer network making such a move financially possible. While Schweitzer's comments include only the United States, it would be reasonable to think that Renault would include Canada in its future plans.
Reuters reported "The United States is becoming an important question for reflection for Renault, because it is a very big market," he stated. "At the moment, it is Nissan (in North America). But from 2010, this is something to re-examine."
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| Occasionally it's possible to spot an old Renault in someone's driveway, like this 1988 Medallion, the last model to be introduced to North America before the company left the country. But the tainted taste still lingering in previous owners mouths makes the possibility of a comeback a daunting task. |
But how will Canadians accept its 'prodigal son' automaker back? After all it just pulled up shop and left our country and its customers back in the 80s, so why should we buy into the company's good will in 2010? That will be one of the introspective questions Renault will have to ask itself before it moves ahead. To be fair, the early 80s were difficult times and Renault was under terrible financial strain even at home. Also they were entangled in a deal that saw AMC sold to Chrysler Group, and their cars being rebranded under the new Eagle nameplate. That said previous Renault customers would go on to tell you about their lackluster parts supply, fly-by-night looking dealerships and arrogant, "we know better" top tier leadership, an attitude that happened to trickle down the corporate ladder right into the customer's face - not a good way to deal with Canadians.