Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche. Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

Paris, France - September 28, 2012

• Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance partner on fuel-efficient engines and transmissions

• Original projects remain on track as partnership expands globally

Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are collaborating on two new projects to accelerate development of fuel-efficient powertrains.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche confirmed the new projects Friday in an annual media update about the Franco-Japanese-German partnership.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche. Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

The new engine project is a jointly developed 4-cylinder gasoline engine family co-led by Renault and Daimler.

The direct-injection turbocharged engine will feature state-of-the-art technology in a compact package.
It targets a significant improvement in fuel economy as well as low emissions.

The companies expect to jointly manufacture the new engines.

They will debut in Daimler and Renault and Nissan vehicles in 2016.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG / Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

In the new transmission project Daimler grants Nissan a license to manufacture automatic transmissions using Daimler´s latest transmission technology for Nissan and Infiniti vehicles starting in 2016.

Nissan subsidiary Jatco is planning to manufacture these newly licensed gearboxes in Mexico.

The new transmission will feature "start and stop" and "park and shift by wire” technologies.

Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche (left) and Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. September 28, 2012. Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

“These new components demonstrate how broadly and rapidly our collaboration is proliferating – while all the time remaining rooted in specific projects that give tangible benefits to our customers,” Ghosn said.
“The relationship is expanding organically and logically.”

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG / Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

“The collaboration achieved a milestone this year, with the first vehicles and engines from the partnership now on the roads,” Zetsche said.
“Furthermore, all our engineers are keeping an open mind, looking with fresh eyes at all potential new areas of collaboration.”

Ghosn and Zetsche confirmed that all of the original “pillar projects” announced in 2010 have been accomplished or are on track.

The companies are also moving forward with discussions on fuel-cell vehicle powertrains, and they are working on a cross-supply program for battery and powertrain components of zero-emission versions of their small cars.


Media Contact

Christoph Horn
Head of Global Communications
Mercedes-Benz Cars
e-mail: christoph.horn@daimler.com  
Phone: +49 (0)711 17 75841
Fax: +49 (0)711 17 91437



Dr. Dieter Zetsche

Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG,
Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

Dr. Dieter Zetsche has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since December 16, 1998, and Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since January 1, 2006.

He is also Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division which includes passenger cars of the brands Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart as well as Mercedes-Benz AMG and Mercedes-Benz McLaren.

Dr. Zetsche was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 5, 1953.

After attending school in Frankfurt and obtaining the Abitur (university entrance examination), he studied electrical engineering from 1971 to 1976 at the University of Karlsruhe and graduated as an engineer.

He joined the research department of the then Daimler-Benz AG in 1976 and became assistant to the Development Manager in the Commercial Vehicles business unit in 1981.

Dr. Zetsche completed a doctorate in engineering in 1982 at the University of Paderborn.

From 1984, as part of the Daimler-Benz Commercial Vehicles Management Development Team, he was responsible for the coordination of international development activities.

Previous positions in the company:

• Member of the Board of Management, Mercedes Car Group, DaimlerChrysler AG, 2005

• Member of the Board of Management, CEO and President of the Chrysler Group, 2000

• Member of the Board of Management, Commercial Vehicle Division, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1999

• Member of the Board of Management, Sales Division, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1998

• Member of the Board of Management, Sales Division, Daimler-Benz AG, 1997

• Member of the Board of Management, Sales Division, Mercedes-Benz AG, 1995

• Deputy member of the Mercedes-Benz AG Board of Management, Chief Engineer, Development Division in the Passenger Cars Business Unit, 1992

• President of Freightliner Corp., Portland, Oregon, 1991

• President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina, 1989

• Member of Management of Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1988

• Head of the Development Department and Chief Engineer of Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1987

• Senior Manager, Chief Engineer of Cross-Country Vehicle Unit, Daimler-Benz AG, 1986

• Coordinator, Commercial Vehicle Development Activities, 1984

• Assistant to Chief Engineer, Commercial Vehicle Division, 1981

• Research Division, 1976


Source: Daimler AG

http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/  



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