August 2011. An anonymous letter accuses three of Renault-Nissan’s top executives of corruption and espionage. But the trail of industrial espionage soon leads to a trumped-up case…
As the world’s 4th largest car manufacturer is planning to revolutionize the market with its first range of electric vehicles, three of its employees are accused of selling industrial secrets about the project to Chinese competitors. Despite the lack of tangible evidence, they are dismissed with immediate effect. The media went wild, but Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn stands its ground. From Paris to Tokyo, this investigative film delves into the false spy case that jeopardized the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Combining reconstructions, evidence and multiple testimonies (from industrialists, workers, DCRI members, journalists and lawyers), The Strange Affair of the Renault Spies takes us behind the scenes of a scandal. Through this investigation, it also seeks to reveal the flaws of a management style that relies on performance and cost-cutting.
Direction: Stéphanie Thomas & Pierre Chassagnieux
Production: Point du Jour for France Télévisions