HomeCommercial VehiclesDaimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance growth and expansion plans

Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance growth and expansion plans

Dieter Zetsche and Carlos Ghosn
Dieter Zetsche and Carlos Ghosn

Renault-Nissan and Daimler’s combined portfolio has since been expanded to comprise 12 projects in Europe, Asia and North America. Renault-Nissan CEO and Chairman Carlos Ghosn stresses on growth based on global scale of projects expecting to remain partners for the long run, and spoke of the obvious strategic advantage for Renault and Nissan.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said the collaboration has delivered as per plan, and beyond. Working together in the future continues through joint projects for a win-win situation for all partners.

Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler are geared up to launch the first vehicles co-developed from scratch, new Renault Twingo, and new smart fortwo and smart forfour city cars built on a jointly developed rear-wheel-drive architecture that took 4 years of work. Renault Twingo sales in Europe began in September. Smart fortwo and smart forfour sales begin in November.

All 3 cars are on display at Paris Motor Show. The independent vehicles reflect unique brand identity. Smart fortwo is being built at smart’s Hambach plant in France. Twingo and smart forfour are being built at Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

Back in June 2014, Nissan and Daimler announced plans of joint development of premium compact vehicles to be jointly manufactured in Mexico. Construction of a facility in Aguascalientes will begin in early 2015. Production of Infiniti cars begins in 2017, and production of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 2018. Mexico facility full production capacity stands at 300,000 units per year. Production of premium compact vehicles are planned at other Daimler and Nissan plants, including in Europe and China.

Renault began supplying 1.6-litre diesel engines for new Mercedes C-Class and Vito van in September. Renault also supplies a 1-litre, 3-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine and a 900cc turbocharged, 3-cylinder gasoline unit for smart forfour, and smart fortwo.

Joint production of a 2-litre, turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine began at the Nissan and Daimler powertrain facility in Decherd, Tennessee, USA this June. Engines made at Infiniti Decherd Powertrain Plant are to be used in European Infiniti Q50 sports sedans and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. At full production, the facility will have installed capacity of 250,000 units pa.

Daimler’s Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., have signed a contract for supply of finished commercial vans for export. Nissan will supply its ‘NV350 Urvan’ (GVW: 3.5 tons) commercial van to Mitsubishi Fuso. It will be sold as ‘Canter Van’ in Middle East beginning this year.

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