Nissan and Mitsubishi reportedly working jointly on a new pickup truck
Nissan Motor Co. And Mitsubishi Motors Corp. have been linked by an alliance, which also includes the French brand Renault, since 2016. This association, which has not been easy since the beginning, has especially become complicated between Nissan and Renault which, in recent months , announced their official separation. Nissan and Mitsubishi have decided to continue their collaboration, and now the two manufacturers claim to be developing an association plan specific to North America.
In fact, the companies recently announced that Nissan will launch its first plug-in hybrid vehicle in North America using a system designed by Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi, for its part, will launch a product specially developed for our market using Nissan’s electric vehicle technology.
A first plug-in hybrid vehicle for Nissan
In the mid-term business plan unveiled on March 25, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida stressed that deeper cooperation with Mitsubishi was the key to maintaining profitability.
“We cannot do everything alone,” said Mr. Uchida. “We need partnerships to fill our strategic gaps. »
In North America, that means working with Mitsubishi to launch a plug-in hybrid vehicle. For its part, Mitsubishi will use Nissan’s electric vehicle innovations to continue its development.
Mitsubishi has remained tight-lipped about the announcement, but Nissan said North American drivers see a benefit in plug-in hybrid technology. More affordable, PHEVs provide a safety net for drivers concerned about range anxiety or charging infrastructure, according to Ivan Espinosa, director of planning at Nissan.
Nissan does not have any hybrids in its North American catalog, but does have one in the Chinese market. The brand was caught off guard by rising US demand for EVs amid slowing growth in electric vehicle sales. This therefore pushed the company to verbally announce its intention to diversify its range soon.
An electric van?
The alliance between the two companies does not seem to want to stop there. Indeed, Nissan and Mitsubishi will jointly develop a pickup of new generation which will be produced in Mexico. Fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions of this van are also being studied.
For Mitsubishi, this vehicle would expand its local range in North America. The manufacturer, which sells the Triton abroad, could finally avoid the 25% customs duties imposed on light trucks in the United States to enter this rather lucrative category.
Everything suggests that, for Nissan, this new one-ton pickup truck would probably be the successor to the Nissan Frontier. Very few details have leaked about whether the vehicle will be marketed here in Canada. On the other hand, Nissan and Mitsubishi say that the pickup truck is expected to arrive in North America between March 31, 2027 and March 31, 2031.
