Renault Group And Nissan Announce New Strategic Projects

As the news of a seven-seater C-segment SUV being tested by Nissan in India gathers speed (besides the news that Renault will launch the new Duster as the Bigster in the next few months), the Renault Group and Nissan have announced new strategic projects. 
The most important of these is the restructuring of the Indian Renault Nissan Alliance entity with Renault Group buying out the 51 percent stake of Nissan, making Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL) its fully owned subsidiary. 
Despite this change, Nissan will maintain its presence in India with a strong focus on enhancing market coverage. RNAIPL will continue to support Nissan’s production of models, including the New Nissan Magnite in India. 
With Nissan choosing Renault Group to develop and produce a derivative of Twingo that it has designed, the restructuring of the Indian business that was until now a well-honed alliance effort with almost equal-equal investment by both the auto makers, the Renault Group and Nissan have entered into a new alliance agreement that would increase the flexibility of each of the two regarding their cross-shareholdings. This would be done by setting the lock-up undertaking at 10 percent instead of the current 15 percent. 
Nissan would be released from its commitment to invest in Ampere while continuing the agreed product projects.
 Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, commented on the significant development: “As a long-time partner of Nissan within the Alliance and as its main shareholder, Renault Group has a strong interest in seeing Nissan turnaround its performance as quickly as possible. Pragmatism and business-oriented mindset were at the core of our discussions to identify the most effective ways of supporting their recovery plan while developing value-creating business opportunities for Renault Group. This Framework Agreement, beneficial for both parties, is the proof of the agile and efficient mindset of the new Alliance. It also confirms the attractiveness of our products with Twingo as well as our ambition to grow our business on international markets. India is a key automotive market and Renault Group will put in place an efficient industrial footprint and ecosystem.”
 “Nissan is committed to preserving the value and benefits of our strategic partnership within the Alliance while implementing turnaround measures to enhance efficiencies. Our goal is to create a more agile and effective business model that allows us to respond quickly to changing market conditions and conserve cash for future investments. We remain committed to the Indian market, delivering vehicles tailored to local consumer needs while ensuring top-notch sales and service for our existing and future customers. India will remain a hub for our research and development, digital and other knowledge services. Our plans for new SUVs in the India market remain intact, and we will continue our vehicle exports to other markets under the “One Car, One World” business strategy for India," said Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO of Nissan. 
 

Greaves Cotton Establishes Dubai Subsidiary For International Expansion

Greaves Cotton

Mumbai-headquartered engineering major Greaves Cotton has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Greaves International Trading FZE (GITFZE), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The subsidiary will function as a hub for trading and distribution, aiming to increase the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa.

The subsidiary will manage business development, customer engagement, technical support, channel partnerships, aftermarket services and supply chain coordination. Its portfolio will include diesel engines, gensets and powertrain solutions.

Greaves International Trading FZE  will initially target GCC markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, with subsequent expansion planned for the Levant and Africa.

Parag Satpute, MD & Group CEO, Greaves Cotton, said, “International Business is a key growth driver for Greaves and a core pillar of our GREAVES.NEXT strategy. In line with our strategic roadmap, its contribution increased from 9 percent to 13 percent in FY2026. The establishment of Greaves International Trading FZE marks a significant step in strengthening our presence across the Middle East and Africa. It enhances our ability to respond with agility to market needs, deepen customer engagement and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions. This is a focused move towards expanding our global footprint and driving sustained, long-term growth.”

The establishment of GITFZE is part of the company's strategy to scale its footprint and export capabilities.

Stellantis Appoints Santo Ficili As CEO Of Maserati Brand , Luca Napolitano Head Of Stellantis &You Sales & Services

Santo Ficili

Stellantis, one of the leading automotive groups, has announced appointments within its Enlarged Europe organisation, effective 1 July 2026.

The company has announced that Santo Ficili has been appointed the CEO of the Maserati brand, while continuing his role as CEO of Alfa Romeo. In addition, Luca Napolitano has been appointed Head of Stellantis &You Sales and Services.

These appointments follow the departure of Jean-Philippe Imparato, who is leaving the company after 36 years.

Emanuele Cappellano, COO, Enlarged Europe & European Brands and Head of Stellantis Pro One, said, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jean-Philippe for his unparalleled contribution to our Company, in which he spent his entire professional life. Jean-Philippe has been a true example of how to combine passion with business, inspiring people with his daily commitment and deep knowledge of the automotive industry. I congratulate on their appointments Santo and Luca, who are already fully operational within Maserati and Stellantis &You organisations and will ensure continuity in these key areas. Their experience and leadership will be crucial in this new stage of growth.”

Tata Motors And Castrol India Forge Partnership For Used Engine Oil Recycling Pilot

Tata Motors And Castrol India Forge Partnership For Used Engine Oil Recycling Pilot

Tata Motors has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Castrol India to launch a pilot programme focused on establishing a circular economy for used engine oil. The initiative directly supports India’s Extended Producer Responsibility regulations while addressing the environmental challenges posed by lubricant waste.

The collaboration will create a structured and traceable system for the collection, storage and channelling of used oil originating from Tata Motors’ authorised service network. Operations for this pilot are specifically centred in Karnataka, targeting a longstanding gap in the responsible handling of this hazardous material.

Under the programme, Tata Motors’ service touchpoints in the state will function as designated collection hubs. Castrol India will leverage its technical expertise to oversee the delivery of the recovered oil to registered recyclers, ensuring rigorous quality control and traceability throughout the recycling chain.

This partnership extends the companies’ established relationship and reinforces their mutual dedication to sustainability. The pilot complements Tata Motors’ wider strategy of promoting alternative-energy vehicles while supporting Castrol India’s objective of integrating recycled content into its premium lubricant offerings.

Vikram Agrawal, Head – Spares and Non-Vehicle Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “Responsible used-oil management is central to building a truly circular automotive ecosystem in India. The volume of used engine oil generated across India’s roads each year makes responsible collection and recycling a matter of significant environmental consequence. By partnering with Castrol India, we are creating a credible, scalable model that links responsible collection at our service touchpoints to high-quality re-refined output. This is a meaningful step in Tata Motors’ broader sustainability journey.”

Anoop Jindal, Vice President – B2B (OEM) Sales, Castrol India Limited, said, “Creating a circular economy for lubricants requires collaboration across the entire value chain. This association with Tata Motors marks our first OEM collaboration focused on building a structured ecosystem for responsible used-oil management in India. We are working to strengthen every link in the circularity chain, from collection and channelisation to recycling and reuse. Insights from our used-oil collection pilots in southern India have deepened our understanding of both the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling circularity. Together with Tata Motors’ extensive service network, this initiative can help create a more organised, traceable and scalable model for used-oil circularity in India.”

Quitterie de Pelleport

French automotive major Renault Group has appointed Quitterie de Pelleport as General Secretary, effective from 1 July 2026. The new division will oversee Legal, Audit, Risk, Ethics & Compliance, Prevention and Protection, Sustainability, Strategic Partnerships, Defence activities and the Circular Economy unit ‘The Future Is Neutral’.

The company also announced the appointment of Sandra Gomez as Chief Product & Program Officer and Francois Lavernos as Chief Information & Digital Officer. Both will report to CEO Francois Provost, who will oversee strategy and the futuREady product plan.

Francois Provost, said, “Four months after the launch of our futuREady plan, we are continuing the transformation of Renault Group with a clear focus on simplification and speed of execution. The creation of the General Secretariat is a key lever to strengthen our governance and our capacity to deliver on our ambitions. This role will also contribute to the development of certain high-potential activities. I have every confidence in Quitterie to lead this strategic function. At the same time, we are simplifying the scope of product, programs and strategy to accelerate the strengthening of our vehicle range and technologies.”

Pelleport joined Renault Group in 2021 as Chief Legal Officer. Her career includes roles at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, DLA Piper, Rhodia and Solvay.