The French government is seeking candidates to replace Renault's embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, according to newsagency Reuters, quoting sources.
Board members have begun to voice doubts about keeping him in office following his indictment in Japan for suspected misconduct.
At a meeting yesterday, Renault directors were briefed on an investigation by alliance partner Nissan that led to Ghosn's arrest last month.
He was charged this week over the company's failure to declare $43 million in deferred income he had arranged to receive.
Nissan fired Ghosn as chairman three days after his detention, but Renault has resisted pressure to dismiss him, as the scandal strains their car making alliance.
The Renault board stuck by its earlier decision to keep him on, with its lead director standing in as interim chairman and deputy CEO Thierry Bollore leading operations.
In a statement issued by Renault after the meeting, the board "noted that, at this stage, it does not have information concerning Carlos Ghosn's defence."
During the five-hour session, however, several directors led by Cherie Blair, wife of the British former prime minister Tony Blair, began to express impatience with that position, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
"What she said, in effect, was that we can't remain in this situation forever," one source said of Blair. "At some point you need to move forward and move on."
A Renault spokesman said he could not comment on board proceedings.
Cherie Blair could not immediately be reached for comment.
French officials have already begun listing possible candidates to replace Ghosn as CEO, three sources close to the company said.
Senior Toyota executive Didier Leroy will be considered, one said.
The boardroom crisis has shaken the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, with Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa calling for changes to weaken the French parent's control.
Renault owns 43.4% of Nissan, whose reciprocal 15% stake in its French parent carries no voting rights.
Nissan in turn controls Mitsubishi via a 34% holding.
