Plans by Nissan and Renault to overhaul their marketing and distribution network in Europe will not affect the networks in the Republic, according to the executive chairman of Nissan Ireland.

Mr Gerard O'Toole said any changes introduced would affect only jurisdictions where Nissan or Renault had wholly-owned distribution companies. In Ireland, the two brands are distributed by independent firms.

A Renault spokesman in Paris yesterday confirmed that the two companies would announce the reorganisation of their retailing network in Europe next week. He denied a report in the Financial Times that the shake-up in sales, distribution and marketing would entail significant job losses among the 6,000 sales staff in western Europe. Asked whether some jobs would be lost because of the reorganisation, the spokesman said details would be given next week.

In December, Renault, which owns a controlling 36.8 per cent stake in Nissan, said it planned to merge the two firms' European sales and distribution operations and to finalise details by the end of April.