It is important that workers are aware of the facts

A Chinese industrial managed to get their hands on strategic information of the program of Renault electric cars This is a scenario that now appears likely, as filter certain information after the brutal layoff of three executives of Renault, last week, including a member of the Executive Committee

This case of leaks, Renault management was informed at the end of August, 2010 by internal information, like more and more a case of espionage with the key money payments. Funds would be even passed via bank accounts in Switzerland, according to an informed source. Another strong presumption: a Chinese automaker would be the instigator and the recipient of the information from Renault Technocentre. Without confirming the Chinese track, Patrick Pélata, number two of the constructor, referred to the "world", "a system organized collection of information ..." "to serve interests situated abroad".

The right arm of Carlos Ghosn took to reassure on the nature of the transmitted information. "No technological, strategic nugget about innovation, was able to filter out the company, including the almost 200 patents filed or pending filing", he said. According to him, "or the chemistry of the electrodes, or the architecture of the batteries or the Assembly of the various elements of the shipper or the engine itself" would be concerned. On the other hand, "information about the architecture of our vehicles, on the costs and the economic model" electric car program "can have fuité."

On their side, three concerned executives deny all charges block, indicates an internal source to the group. Matthew Tenenbaum, one of them, was deported Monday last of its professional premises "in minutes, without any justification as a terse and enigmatic"we know what you did, you would do well to confess", even though no explanation on the fault which seemed to be so charged is he was made", said his lawyer.

Affected to live on a particular policy subject, Renault prepares to defend himself in the legal field. The constructor should file a complaint in middle of next week.Which will allow to immediately initiate an investigation of the DCRI, the French counter-espionage, as it was, on the eve of the weekend, that "the verification of information".

Nissan involved

But need to refine the competent court and, especially, the qualification (espionage or theft and breach of trust). A theme which can be very delicate. Especially if Renault chose as angle of attack "intelligence with a foreign power." Renault is indeed one of the only major manufacturers absent of China, the first automobile market in the world, and is poorly its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, negotiate its facility with the authorities in Beijing, on trial for espionage background...

Another critical: the possible involvement of Nissan. Because if this or that point of the battery technology was transmitted to others, the final damage will be especially suffered by the Japanese subsidiary of Renault, leader on the subject. The technocentre in Guyancourt, a huge site which houses 11.500 collaborators, and not less than 1,000 meeting rooms, the case is in all heads, but few know what really happened. "During the last year, nothing had been said on this subject, indicates a close employee of two of the three frameworks. For him, the substance of the problem is the scale by outsourcing. "There is an armada of equipment suppliers and subcontractors in Renault, the risk of leakage is therefore very common and not today's date", he said.

The three employees will be summoned this week for an interview screening before sanction, which the Group may decide to reinstate or not. The unions hope will that on this occasion the Directorate say more on the alleged facts. "It is important that workers are aware of the facts." "Otherwise, they will constantly ask if they will be placed in disciplinary proceedings, if they give such information to a partner or supplier", says a CFE - CGC representative.