- Daimler, Nissan and Renault forge a major technology- and components-sharing partnership.
- Look for Daimler to provide four- and six-cylinder gas and diesel engines for future Infinitis.
- The companies may jointly develop electric vehicles, using the Nissan Leaf as a starting point.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Daimler, Nissan and Renault confirmed Wednesday a wide-ranging partnership that includes joint development of vehicles -- from small cars to light commercial vehicles to possibly luxury vehicles -- and technology sharing on engines, batteries and electric cars.
The ailing Smart brand gets to soldier on with new models. The next-generation Fortwo will share parts and architecture with the next-gen Renault Twingo. The two cars launch beginning in 2013 and include electric versions. A four-seater Smart likely will be sold in the U.S. alongside the two-seater Fortwo.
Daimler will provide four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines for Nissan's premium cars, including its Infiniti luxury brand. Nissan-Renault will share its three- and four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines for the Smart and Twingo, as well as Mercedes-Benz compacts like the B-Class.
The three will study future areas of cooperation, including architecture and parts-sharing between Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti cars. Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn predicts help from Daimler may result in the doubling or tripling of Infiniti sales volume "in the midterm."
The companies will explore joint development of technologies related to electric vehicles and batteries. Nissan has an aggressive electric-vehicle strategy that kicks off with the introduction of the Nissan Leaf.
Renault and Mercedes will jointly develop and produce light commercial vehicles. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said Nissan could assemble commercial vehicles at its Mississippi plant for Mercedes, which now imports its Sprinter cargo van.
Both executives insist the alliance will make them more competitive, save them money, improve their profits and result in more choice and less expensive vehicles for consumers.
Inside Line says: A host of new vehicles, from small to luxury to commercial. — Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large
Add A Comment »
dude72 says:
12:59 AM, 11/11/2010
In this regard, Nissan has to come up with diesel engine technology which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emission. After all, diesel engines are known to produce more greenhouse gases than gasoline engines.
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f1ipmode says:
09:18 AM, 04/18/2010
Well Nissan just lost a sale. I was ready to switch from Honda to Nissan, but not after hearing this crap.
jessie77 says:
10:49 AM, 04/14/2010
I'm a huge Nissan/Infiniti fan. My first car was a 2000 Alitma SE and then after some years I transitioned over to Infiniti and now I'm on my second G35. I loved all my previous Altima's and G35 and I love my '08 G35x Sport. Therefore, when I read this article my heart just sunk and a great feel of disappointment came over me. Nissan/Infiniti will lose my business along with other Nissan/Infiniti owners if they decide to replace their currently high rated engines with Daimler crap!!!!!!!!
analogout says:
05:24 PM, 04/08/2010
"Both executives insist the alliance will make them more competitive, save them money, improve their profits and result in more choice and less expensive vehicles for consumers."
Sounds familiar. Its the "Merger of Equals" all over again. I wonder how much damage Daimler will cause its "partners" this time around. Hopefully Carlos will be wise enough to avoid the pitfalls that the old Chrysler could not. Who knows, maybe Daimler has changed its parasitic management practices and will bring value to this alliance without leaving Nissan and Renault as husks. I doubt it. Just my opinion.
negrodamus says:
08:18 AM, 04/08/2010
Oh boy. The Nissan VQ engine in the Infiniti G is great so why would it be replaced by a Daimler engine? It should be the other way around. If Mercedes puts VQ's under the hoods of their cars then I could understand.
crazyb02 says:
05:21 PM, 04/07/2010
Sounds like a bad move to me for Diamler.
carl0ver says:
02:00 PM, 04/07/2010
byebye nissan vq engine
hero_sina says:
08:58 AM, 04/07/2010
i don't what will happen,but i know the only thing Nissan can make it well is engines,so why should Mercedes supply engines for Nissan?
juan_mx says:
08:29 AM, 04/07/2010
If this cross-pollination continues,
by 2030 we are going to end with a single platform for each segment of cars.
Choosing a brand will be a matter of looks, the hardware will be the same.