Chrysler and Nissan call it quits on car, truck sharing

[Darkanion]

I just noticed this from yesterday's Automotive News emails :


ALERT: Chrysler and Nissan call it quits on car, truck sharing

NASHVILLE -- Chrysler Group, whose new Italian partner, Fiat S.p.A., is preparing to supply Chrysler dealers with European-designed small cars, today scrapped plans to share vehicles with Nissan Motor Co.

The decision means:
• Nissan will not supply Chrysler dealers with a small car for global markets starting next year.
• Nissan will not provide Chrysler with a Nissan Versa-based sedan to sell in South America.
• Chrysler will not build the next-generation full-sized Nissan Titan pickup starting in the 2012 model year.

"It was decided it was in the best interests of both companies to end the projects," Chrysler and Nissan said in a joint statement.

That leaves Nissan with a bigger problem than any facing Chrysler.
Nissan will continue producing Titans at its plant in Canton, Miss., through the 2011 model year. Beyond that, Nissan now must scramble to either find a different manufacturing partner to produce the next Titan or create the truck's next generation on an abbreviated schedule.

"We're exploring our options," Nissan North America spokesman Fred Standish said.




So, it looks like the Ram won't be the next Titan...

 

[Dana_15]

^^^Hopefully there will be another Ram....

 

[Darkanion]

^^^Hopefully there will be another Ram....

There wasn't anything in the article about not building another Ram, just that Nissan wouldn't be getting the Ram as a Titan.

 

[Dana_15]

There wasn't anything in the article about not building another Ram, just that Nissan wouldn't be getting the Ram as a Titan.

Just thinking outloud...hopefully it does not get cut because Chrysler is gearing up for smaller cars.

 

[Darkanion]

Just thinking outloud...hopefully it does not get cut because Chrysler is gearing up for smaller cars.

Yeah, I see your point. Unless the market changes drastically, I don't see Chrysler getting out of the truck business. They may change their marketing and their target audience. But, I doubt they'll get out of the business.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I wonder if nissan will still be building the Equator for Suzuki

I also wonder if Chrysler will continue building the Routan minivan for VW ?

 

[Bowtie2Sierra]

I wonder if nissan will still be building the Equator for Suzuki

I also wonder if Chrysler will continue building the Routan minivan for VW ?

Did I read somewhere that Suzuki is considering pulling out of the US market or am I making that up? I thought I read that somewhere but I can't remember the source.

 

[Darkanion]

Did I read somewhere that Suzuki is considering pulling out of the US market or am I making that up? I thought I read that somewhere but I can't remember the source.

I just did a couple of searches and it looks like Suzuki has new models coming to the US in 2010 and 2011. I actually thought that Suzuki had pulled out of the car & truck market in the U.S. years ago..

 

[Nick The Great]

Clearly, I'm no economic guru. But I've never understood these 'partnerships' any way. Because if I was some VP at GM and some clown from Nissan/Honda//Tojo/Ford/Chrysler/etc asked if I'd make a truck for them, I'd laugh him out of my office. In fact, I'd record the conversation, and send it to my marketing department.

I know that Nissan was 'helping' Chrysler with small cars. But all this tells me is that Nissan can't build trucks, and Chrysler can't build cars.

 

[Texas1911]

I know that Nissan was 'helping' Chrysler with small cars. But all this tells me is that Nissan can't build trucks, and Chrysler can't build cars.

Nissan is one of the largest builders of trucks in the world. They have produced light trucks and heavy diesel trucks (box trucks, etc.) and they are pretty good at those segments. The problem is when you try to find the middle ground in a saturated market with the full size truck, especially with the established brand loyalty to the American makes.

Looks like we are going to see a Chrysler branded Fiat Punto and Bravo, both are small hatchbacks similar to Ford's Focus. They don't look half bad, and are probably better than anything Chrysler could design. Unfortunately, with Nissan's ties to Renault ... I'm not certain if this was the best idea for Chrysler. It seems like Chrysler stemmed to gain long-term benefit from the deal, but I guess they think they can swim on their own.

Wouldn't be the first mistake Chrysler has made in the recent past.