피아트•르노, 합병 추진<br /><br />Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler proposed joining forces with French manufacturer Renault.<br />The 50-50 merger comes amid both companies' falling sales in the world's biggest markets such as China and the U.S.<br />Ko Roon-hee provides a closer look. <br />To become a world leader in the rapidly changing auto industry.<br />This is Fiat Chrysler's main goal behind its proposed merger with Renault. <br />According to the Italian-American carmaker's announcement on Monday,<br />the potential merger would see a 50-50 split between Fiat and Renault's shareholders. <br />As for why now,... Fiat says there are many new opportunities in connected, electric and autonomous cars. <br />Monday's announcement also included specifics in potential vehicle sales.<br />The new business is expected to sell approximately 8-point-7 million vehicles annually ...and save both companies a combined 5-point-6 billion U.S. dollars.<br />And no plant closures are expected.<br />Data from market tracker Focus2move released this month shows...<br /> the Renault-Nissan alliance is third among the world's best-selling auto manufacturers. <br />Volkswagen grabbed the top spot, with Toyota coming at second. <br />The Fiat-Renault combination...together with its Nissan and Mitsubishi partners...is expected to sell more than 15-million vehicles annually.<br />And the change would create the largest OEM alliance in the world.<br />"The auto industry has several problems the emissions tax, cost control and also an over capacity, I find. Should Fiat and Renault merge, there would be a strong base with Chrysler in the United States, in Europe with Fiat and Renault and in Asia with Nissan."<br />Renault said its board of directors has already examined the proposal and will review potential options. <br />Sources say, the automaker is likely to make a decision next week.<br />Analysts warned that hurdles remain...such as the French state's role as the largest shareholder of Renault...meaning possible opposition from politicians.<br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News. <br />
