Dacia

Japanese worries about the proposed merger's effects on the 20-year old Renault and Nissan alliance may have scuppered the proposed US$35 billion ($51 billion) merger between Renault and Fiat Chrysler (FCA). Sources have told Bloomberg Japanese officials informed their French counterparts about fears the proposed Fiat Chrysler and Renault merger could harm Nissan.

Nissan has reportedly rebuffed plans to merge with Renault, but the Japanese automaker is unlikely to oppose the proposed merger between Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Renault. "Overall, we don't see any particularly negative aspect," Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan CEO, told reporters (including those from Reuters) after a meeting of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance board.

Renault is set to propose a merger to Nissan, but the chances of success seem low at this stage. A source has outlined Renault's proposed merger plans to The Nikkei. In the proposal, a new holding company will be formed to own 100% of Renault and Nissan, with current shareholders swapping their current shares for stakes in the new company.

In a short interview with The Nikkei, Carlos Ghosn said he has "no doubt" his arrest was part of a "plot" hatched by Nissan executives to kill a potential merger with Renault and Mitsubishi. Ghosn told the newspaper "there was a plan to integrate" Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, and claims he'd discussed these plans with Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa.

The next-generation 2018 Dacia Duster has been spied for the first time during hot weather testing in Europe this week, giving us a first look at the little off-roader. Dacia, the Romanian budget-focused sub-brand of French manufacturer Renault, has offered the Duster since 2010 in overseas markets, including Europe, though it has never made its way to Australia.