Chrysler Ends Joint Venture with Nissan

[rickaren]

Chrysler Ends Joint Venture with Nissan

Posted Today 01:32 PM


Waiting for a Dodge-engineered Nissan Titan? We wouldn’t, especially after reading a joint statement issued by Nissan and Chrysler this afternoon that proclaims all vehicle projects between the two companies are no more.

“For the past several months,” the statement reads, “teams from both companies have been studying the viability of the projects in light of significant changes in business conditions.

“Today, it was decided it was in the best interests of both companies to end the projects.”

Not only does this split end the possibility of a Ram-based Titan, but it also kills any plans Nissan may have had to supply small cars to Chrysler--not surprising, as B- and C-segment compact cars are a strength of Chrysler’s latest corporate overlord, Fiat SpA. Chrysler had planned on selling a rebadged Versa as the Dodge Trazo in Sotuh America, and would have built a Nissan-based small car for North America in 2010 or 2011.

Although the partnership seems to have dissolved, Chrysler still has active agreements with JATCO, a Nissan “partner” (much in the same way that Delphi is a GM “partner”) responsible for building continuously variable transmissions.

LINK:Chrysler Ends Joint Venture with Nissan ? Automotive News & Car Rumors at Automobile Magazine

[rickaren]

Joint Statement From Nissan and Chrysler

Nissan and Chrysler today announced a mutual agreement to end three OEM vehicle-supply projects announced last year.


For the past several months, teams from both companies have been studying the viability of the projects in light of significant changes in business conditions since the projects were announced in January and April of 2008.

Today, it was decided it was in the best interests of both companies to end the projects.

The projects had involved:

1. Nissan providing to Chrysler a compact sedan for the South American market beginning this year.
2. Nissan providing to Chrysler a small vehicle for global markets beginning in 2010.
3. Chrysler providing to Nissan a full-size pickup truck starting in 2011.

A separate agreement involving the supply of transmissions from Nissan affiliate JATCO to Chrysler remains unchanged. That agreement has been in effect since 2004.

[rickaren]

Chrysler, Nissan cancel exchange of vehicles

Posted Thursday, Aug 27, 2009, 2:01 pm in Employee News

Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co. are ending a project in which they would have produced vehicles for each other, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The plans, originally announced in early 2008, called for Nissan to make a compact sedan that Chrysler would sell in South America, and another small vehicle in 2010 that Chrysler would sell in other emerging markets, the paper said. In exchange, Chrysler would supply a version of its Dodge Ram full-size pickup to be sold as a Nissan beginning in 2011, the Free Press noted.

“The opportunity we now have with Fiat to develop small cars was certainly a factor,” a Chrysler spokesman told the paper. Chrysler and Nissan decided in February to freeze the projects to reassess their costs and profitability, the paper said. A key element of the bankruptcy sale was Fiat’s expertise in smaller vehicles and more fuel-efficient diesel engines—lessening the need for Nissan’s contribution, the story said. (Detroit Free Press)