Nissan reported to cut technology licensing

Nissan Motor Corp. of Japan will end its technology licensing to Renault Samsung Motors Co. next year, a Japanese newspaper said yesterday. Nihon Keizai Shinbun quoted Nissan officials as saying the step was in preparation for its entry into the Korean market itself this year. Renault SA of France owns 44 percent of Nissan and 70 percent of Renault Samsung Motors. The newspaper said models to hit the market early next year would be the last to use Nissan’s technology. An official at Renault Samsung, however, denied any knowledge of such a step. According to the Japanese newspaper, Renault would supply the necessary technology to its Korean operation beginning next year. The Renault Samsung official, however, said, “It costs a huge amount of money to develop a new model, and it was agreed from the beginning that either Nissan or Renault would transfer technology to the company. In talks with Nissan about selecting a base model for a replacement of the SM5, we had no problem.” The SM5 is the company’s flagship sedan in the Korean market. by Jung Hyo-sik ,jbiz91@joongang.co.kr>