DETROIT -- Under an expanded product sharing alliance announced today, Chrysler LLC will become Nissan's pickup truck manufacturer, while Nissan will make subcompacts for Chrysler.
The agreement means Nissan will discontinue making its Titan pickup when Chrysler starts making Nissan-badged trucks in 2011.
In exchange, Chrysler will get a Nissan-based small car, built at Nissan's Oppama, Japan, factory to Chrysler's own design starting in 2010. The new car is destined for North America, Europe and other global markets.
The Nissan-based small car will be built on a new Nissan platform to an already-completed Chrysler design, according to Chrysler co-President Tom LaSorda. He declined to say whether the design would be based on the Dodge Hornet concept car.
LaSorda said the deal will have no impact on its ongoing venture with Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile Co. The two companies continue to work jointly on products for North America and other markets, he said.
"At some point we believe we need more than one small car," for North America, LaSorda said. "We would be counting on Chery to provide that."
The Nissan-based small car will be built on a new platform.
Chrysler will make the Nissan pickup for Nissan at its Saltillo, Mexico, factory. To make room for the Nissan product, Chrysler will shift Dodge Ram production to its St. Louis North and Warren, Mich., truck plants. LaSorda said heavy duty production would likely be shifted to St. Louis North, while light duty production could easily be shifted to Warren. The Chrysler-built Nissan pickup will go on sale in North America in 2011.
In January, the two companies announced Nissan would supply Chrysler with a Versa-based sedan for sale in South America starting next year.
"Forging the right tactical partnerships is critical to the long-term success of Chrysler," said LaSorda in a prepared statement.
The companies said they "have also agreed to maintain an open dialogue to explore further product-sharing opportunities," according to a Chrysler press release.
LaSorda declined to discuss financial details of the agreement except to say that Chrysler would pay Nissan for vehicles the latter builds and vice versa.

YUP, just read it at PUTruck.com. Chrysler, (Dodge) to make pickup for Nissan to replace the Titan. I now have 2 classics........ or orphans, depending on how you look at it. Still plan on keeping both tho'

wow!

couple highlights (or lowlights) from WSJ:

The Chrysler-produced truck will replace Nissan's current Titan model. (DAMNIT, I don't want a classic yet!!)

The agreement is strictly a manufacturing partnership and involves no financial investments by either company in the other. (yet...once both parties see increased profitability, I think they will marry financially)

In a separate conference call, Tom LaSorda, Chrysler's vice chairman, said the latest deal allows Chrysler to "take advantage of our styling and design," and "utilize Nissan's great engineering and platform execution." (whatever dude.....blah blah, no need to BS shareholders, you're gonna do it anyway)

The recent downturn in auto sales and rising gas prices have hurt sales of pickups and sport-utility vehicles, leaving Chrysler with available capacity in its truck plants. (makes good business sense, available capacity = equipment that sits and is not making money but you are still expensing every year, might as well team up with someone and build their truck cheaper while getting $$ for PPE)

__________________
'04 2wd with PRG stuff......



"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Feb. 28, 2008

adds a twist to the titan line actually. i'm thinking chrysler will be making a 3/4 ton with a CTD with the titan look, although the titan is due for a new look soon. so i'm guessing that's why the navistar deal didn't come to fruition. let's just hope nissan builds the tranny at least. 1/2 tons will still be built in canton, get a new refreshed look with the new 08 armada interior and this same look will also apply to the 3/4 or 1 ton Titan to be built by chrysler in mexico stuft with a CTD. now that sounds like a briliant plan!

__________________
PRGbuilt
born 12/3, purchased 1/4 '04 Smoke SE KC PRG MT kit, CST spindles, PRG Spec'd SAWs 2.5" C/Os w/Eibachs, SAW Airbumps, CST carrier bearing, 37x12.5x17 Pro Comp Extreme All-Terrains, American Racing Mojave Teflons, HID low beams, Magnaflow custom exhaust, Injen CAI Filter, ID FRP prerunner fenders, front windshield tinted, Optima Yellow Top, Pioneer AVH-4100DVD w/ipod adapter connected to 80gb iPod, Sirius, HD radio tuner, Hertz 6.5" Components front, Boston 6.5" rear, Boston G1 10" subs, tech12 sub enclosure, Alpine amps, Eclipse BEC106 backup camera, TrueTrac, regeared from 2.94s to 4.11s, CTW TT prerunner fiberglass bedsides, Giant Motorsports under axle conversion kit w/64" deavers (21" rear travel) with Giant custom built rear bedcage and KING 3.0 bypass shocks...

VIDS!!! http://vimeo.com/groups/h00ligan/videos

I don't see anywhere it says the Titan is dead. How I read it is Chrysler will be building the truck for Nissan which is what they're good at and Nissan will stop building trucks and move production to what they do best, small cars and trucks.

I reread the article. You are probably right. The title states that Dodge is going to produce pick ups for Nissan as a replacement for the Titan.... However, Nissan will determine the engine/drivetrain at an date to be announced..... OOPS

There are a few arcticle out on this now and one states that the new nissan will have the new 2009 chrysler base .Quote "The pickup will be built at Chrysler's plant in Saltillo, Mexico, using the light duty Dodge Ram as a base." Chrysler and Nissan unveil production alliance: Reuters Business News - MSN Money I dunno a Japanesse car manufacturer designed in California that is built in Mississippi and now in Mexico. I guess the new Titan or whatever they're going to call it can't make the claim "BUILT IN THE USA" ... I have mixed feelings on this whole thing, but like some say "IT IS WHAT IT IS"!!!!

sooo....chrysler building a replacement for the titan doesn't mean it's dead??

__________________
'04 2wd with PRG stuff......



"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Feb. 28, 2008

What is Nissan going to do with Canton? Didn't they get a bunch of state dough to build there?

Read this and sleep well tonight.

Nissan to outsource Titan,Long Live the Titan!