Move over, Chrysler Versa. Here's the Dodge Titan!

[Ever Victorious]

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/...r=msn

A new full size pickup made by Nissan to be sold by Chrysler.

Oh, wait... that's not the funny part.

A new Chrysler-designed economy car to be sold by Nissan.

If they axe the Versa, I will be PISSED.

[07Vsdn]

it seems to be saying, to me at least, that nissan will make a small car to be sold by chrysler, with a 1.8L engine no less...

so, based off of the versa?

[keanucosmo]

It actually says both. Very confusing.

2nd paragraphQuote »Nissan will make a new fuel-efficient small car designed by Chrysler.[/quote]4th paragraphQuote »Nissan would supply Chrysler with small car models with engine displacement of around 1.8 liters.[/quote]

[07Vsdn]

you are right, it is indeed poorly written.

the nested link to another article is written better:

http://www.forbes.com/markets/....html

[biggie]

Nissan may be producing them and they will be sold under the Chrysler name. I doubt that Nissan would sell a Chrysler under the Nissan name. If so I may have to end my good viewing of Nissan.

[srellim234]

I think you got the part about who does what a little backwards. Nissan will build the cars for Chrysler; Chrysler will build the full size trucks for Nissan to replace the Titan.

The Wall Street Journal article this morning quoted Tom LaSorda from Chrysler, referring to the car, as saying the deal allows Chrysler to "take advantage of our styling and design," and "utilize Nissan's great engineering and platform execution." Sounds to me like the only thing Chrysler will do on the car is the styling. Mechanically it will be a Nissan.

The article indicated that Nissan will manufacture the car for Chrysler in the Oppama, Japan plant. Chrysler will build full size trucks for Nissan at its Saltillo, Mexico plant as a replacement for the Titan.

The agreement is strictly a manufacturing partnership according to the WSJ.

[biggie]

I'll go with a big thumbs down to Nissan selling a Chrysler truck and replacing the Titan with it.

[Great White Versa]

The article indicated that Nissan will manufacture the car for Chrysler in the Oppama, Japan plant.

No offense to the hardworking guys/girls in the Mexico Versa plant, but I would almost rather buy a Chrysler branded, Japan built Nissan than get the Mexican V. I wonder what price they plan to hit the market at and if the cars will have all of the nice interior upgrades that are available in the SL.

What do other people think?

[Knightro2]

Knowing Chrysler the interior will suck. Have you seen the inside of a Nitro or Caliber? It's all plastic. And the cheap looking kind to. I was on a couple of business trips and I get a Nitro and a Caliber (not at the same time of course) as a rental car. I hated them. It was so cheap feeling on the inside. I love the interior of my SL. Don't think I would really want anything else other than maybe a nicer A/C control system. I miss my push button Max A/C option.

[MinisterofDOOM]

you are right, it is indeed poorly written.

the nested link to another article is written better:

http://www.forbes.com/markets/....html

Even this article has me confused.

Nissan, which has been struggling with the poor sales of its second-generation Titan full-sized pickup.

Wait, WHAT? Since when is the Titan in it's second generation? It got new headlights and an optional longer wheelbase last year...that doesn't qualify as a new generation. And since when have sales been struggling?

EDIT:Okay, here's the real story:http://www.nissannews.com/news...mid=1

Chrysler will BUILD the truck, but it will be a unique Nissan model, not a shared model or a rebadge. It will be built at Chrysler's Saltillo, Mexico plant. Also note the wording "a full-size pickup." I wonder if the entire Titan line will be manufactured by Chrysler (would be strange considering the shiny new facility Nissan has in Tennessee). I bet it'll be a heavy duty Titan with a Cummins powerplant and a beefy Chrysler-sourced transmission.

Conversely, the compact built by Nissan will also be a Chrysler design and not a rebadge or shared model. It would be a world car built in Japan and NOT one of Nissan's North American plants.

[tyler_ofspain]

I believe it's saying that chrysler is designing a new small car that will be built by nissan yet marketed as a chrysler?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yes. It'll be a Chrylser design sold as a Chrysler but built at a Nissan plant.The truck will be a Nissan design sold as a Nissan and built at a Chrysler plant.

[Andrews Chalmers]

No offense... but I don't find the article confusing, it just requires careful reading...

After the market closed on Monday, Chrysler announced it would make a full-size pickup truck designed by Nissan Motor (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ), while Nissan will make a new fuel-efficient small car designed by Chrysler.

Chrysler will build a full-sized pickup designed by Nissan. Nissan will build a new small vehicle designed by Chrysler.

In January, the two companies said they were cooperating on producing fuel-efficient small vehicles. In the deal, Nissan would supply Chrysler with small car models with engine displacement of around 1.8 liters.

The seemingly contradictory statement was made in January. It is now April. Different announcements - not confusing at all.

According to the deal announced Monday, both products will be sold in North America, and the new Chrysler small car will also be sold in Europe and other global markets starting in 2010. No financial details were disclosed.

Deal announced Monday refers to the April announcement.

[daan]

Chrysler and Mistubishi have traded cars (and parts like engines, etc) back and forth for years, and nobody cared. Now everybody's up in arms (well, not really) about them teaming up with Nissan. I know I'd rather have a Nissan-ized small Chrysler than a Mitsubishi one... I had nothing but problems with my Mitsu in the past.

[keanucosmo]

No offense... but I don't find the article confusing, it just requires careful reading...

After the market closed on Monday, Chrysler announced it would make a full-size pickup truck designed by Nissan Motor (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ), while Nissan will make a new fuel-efficient small car designed by Chrysler.

Chrysler will build a full-sized pickup designed by Nissan. Nissan will build a new small vehicle designed by Chrysler.

In January, the two companies said they were cooperating on producing fuel-efficient small vehicles. In the deal, Nissan would supply Chrysler with small car models with engine displacement of around 1.8 liters.

The seemingly contradictory statement was made in January. It is now April. Different announcements - not confusing at all.

According to the deal announced Monday, both products will be sold in North America, and the new Chrysler small car will also be sold in Europe and other global markets starting in 2010. No financial details were disclosed.

Deal announced Monday refers to the April announcement.

Good for you. I read the article carefully, but I'm still confused. Why mention the January deal at all if they are unrelated.

Is the new announcement that each will be using their manufacturing capacity to produce cars & trucks for each other?

I really don't see any upside in Dodge selling Nissan designed trucks as Dodge's. But I can see them using plant capacity to make trucks for Nissan. Cerberus was already doing this in Europe for several car companies before they bought Chrysler.

Also if Nissan was going to supply small cars to Chrysler in January, why would they now make Chrysler designed small cars. Just like no upside for Dodge selling Nissan designed trucks as Dodge's, I see no upside in Nissan selling Dodge designed small cars as Nissans. But it makes sense that they would use excess plant capacity to manufacure cars for Chrysler.

[keanucosmo]

Here is a clear & concise article about this.

http://network.nationalpost.co....aspx

Quote »On Monday, Chrysler announced a major deal that will see it build pickup trucks for the North American market for Nissan. In exchange, Nissan will build a small car in Japan for Chrysler. The alliance makes sense for both companies. Nissan gets a truck to replace its ailing Titan and maintains a presence in the lucrative full-sized pickup market. Chrysler gets the small car it so desperately needs for North America – one it has been unable to get from Chinese partner Chery, which has had quality problems. [/quote]

[srellim234]

keanucosmo- You obviously missed my post quoting the Wall Street Journal in this thread, so here it is again:

I think you got the part about who does what a little backwards. Nissan will build the cars for Chrysler; Chrysler will build the full size trucks for Nissan to replace the Titan.

The Wall Street Journal article this morning quoted Tom LaSorda from Chrysler, referring to the car, as saying the deal allows Chrysler to "take advantage of our styling and design," and "utilize Nissan's great engineering and platform execution." Sounds to me like the only thing Chrysler will do on the car is the styling. Mechanically it will be a Nissan.

The article indicated that Nissan will manufacture the car for Chrysler in the Oppama, Japan plant. Chrysler will build full size trucks for Nissan at its Saltillo, Mexico plant as a replacement for the Titan.

The agreement is strictly a manufacturing partnership according to the WSJ.

No confusion if you ignore the Forbes article.

[keanucosmo]

keanucosmo- You obviously missed my post quoting the Wall Street Journal in this thread, so here it is again:

No confusion if you ignore the Forbes article.

You are correct. I did miss that post.

[msb0b]

Interesting development. By the rate this is going, I think Renault-Nissan and Chrysler will eventually tie the knot. It was no secret that Ghosn wanted to add an American automaker to his portfolio when Daimler was shopping Chrysler around. Now that Chrysler is owned by Cerberus, a private equity firm, whose M.O. is to pump and dump the properties for a quick profit, Renault-Nissan may just be the right buyer, especially with vested interests in these collaborations.

[Onyxblue]

Here is another article from msnbc: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24115491/

[MinisterofDOOM]

I really don't see any upside in Dodge selling Nissan designed trucks as Dodge's.

They won't be.They'll be building Nissan trucks which will be sold as Nissans.