The United States is likely to figure in those plans. Publicly, Renault says that it won't reenter the U.S. market until 2010, but that could change when Carlos Ghosn returns to take the CEO post in March 2005 after running Nissan in Japan for four years. Nissan's U.S. dealer network is bound to look attractive, and Ghosn may also be eager to beat out French archrival PSA (makers of Peugeot and Citroen), also considering a return to the United States. Le Quement says he has already been instructed to make all new vehicles comply with U.S. standards.
Doubters in Detroit say that American motorists still don't "get" French design. "Renault design resonates very well in Europe, but I don't think it is understood here," says Anne Asensio, who used to work for le Quement and is now General Motors' advanced vehicles design director.
Then again, displeasing some people is what le Quement likes doing best.
Ian Wylie writes for Fast Company from London.
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