This picture shows a general view of the Nissan Motors headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture on December 17, 2018.Behrouz Mehri / Getty Images via AP The Japanese government played a role in the breakdown of merger talks between Renault and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles earlier this month, weighing in with concerns the combination could harm Nissan, people familiar with the matter said.Japan signaled its misgivings over the deal to the French government, said the people, asking not to be identified speaking about the negotiations.France Renaults most powerful shareholder then sought a pause in the talks for more time to win Nissans support, provoking Fiat to withdraw its offer.Details on Japans role, only emerging now, highlight the obstacles to a quick resumption in merger negotiations between Renault and its Italo-American rival. They also show that France and Japan can find common ground to protect their carmakers and the two-decade Renault-Nissan alliance.A spokesman for Japans ministry of economy, trade and industry declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the French finance ministry. Representatives for Renault and Nissan also declined to comment.Renault and the French state are now focusing on repairing the relationship with Nissan, under strain since the November arrest of Carlos Ghosn, who oversaw both companies and their partnership. Tensions escalated further when Renaults new chairman, Jean-Dominique Senard, pressed Nissan for a merger it didnt want, then pursued the Fiat deal without telling the Japanese company. Relations touched a new low earlier this month when Senard threatened to block Nissans new governance plan at its annual shareholders meeting. An accord Thursday put an end to the spat over boardroom powers, easing tensions for now.Nissan had been cool to the Fiat-Renault deal since it first learned of the talks, people familiar with the matter said. But rather than come out against it openly, the Japanese companys representatives on Renaults board choose to signal their opposition with an abstention, the people said. Dialogue with Japanese officials helped their French counterparts understand Nissans position, prompting France to put the brakes on the
Origin: Japan played a hidden role in breakdown of Fiat-Renault deal