Renault-Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn has called news that Apple could become a car manufacturer "good news".

Last month, Apple was reported to have plans for a 'minivan' style car, following Google which has been developing driverless car prototypes.

Speaking at Mobile World Congress today yesterday Ghosn said it considered the pair to be “allies” rather than competitors, reports The Drum.

“It’s not about who’s going to have the bigger share of the entry market. It’s about how the companies join in promoting the electric cars,” he said. “They are making them much more credible and they are pushing consumers to consider electric vehicles much more seriously, showing the consumer that there is an alternative for the future.”

He claimed Renault-Nissan was “leading the pack” as the biggest producer of electric cars and as it continues to develop this technology for autonomous vehicles he said there will be “a convergence of interests” with Apple and Google.

“The potential of the electric car market is much bigger than what you’re going to lose to competition,” he added.

Ghosn predicted a battle among car makers to partner with the technology companies powering the software in driverless cars, naming Apple, Google, Microsoft as examples.

“You’re going to have a game of alliances in order to make the most advanced technology,” he said. 

Ghosn is so far alone in his view amongst car bosses. Former GM chief executive Dan Akersson has said Apple has no idea what it's getting into and Mercedes-Benz chief Dieter Zetsche dismissed the idea that an Apple Car might be a competitor to traditional manufacturers.