Nissan and Mitsubishi, already united under an automotive alliance, are joining forces to bolster their presence in North America. The collaboration aims to introduce innovative products tailored to American consumers, including a plug-in hybrid from Nissan, an electric vehicle from Mitsubishi, and a jointly developed mid-size pickup truck manufactured in Mexico.
This strategic move aligns with Nissan’s comprehensive three-year plan, which entails refreshing its lineup and launching seven new models in the U.S. by 2026.
Although Nissan and Mitsubishi have been alliance partners with Renault for some time, their joint ventures in the U.S. market have been limited, aside from the Nissan Rogue serving as the basis for the Mitsubishi Outlander. However, recent announcements indicate a deepening partnership focused on delivering new models to American buyers.
Nissan’s three-year plan revealed this week encompasses a significant lineup refresh and the introduction of seven new models in North America, with plans to incorporate a plug-in hybrid utilizing Mitsubishi’s powertrain technology.
Given Mitsubishi’s expertise in plug-in hybrids demonstrated by the Outlander PHEV, this technology may find its way into Nissan’s popular Rogue model.
Concurrently, Mitsubishi is poised to introduce a new electric vehicle leveraging Nissan’s electric platform, potentially drawing inspiration from the Ariya crossover. A pivotal component of Nissan’s “Arc” strategy involves the collaborative development of a next-generation pickup truck with Mitsubishi, slated for production in Mexico.
This endeavor is likely to serve as a successor to the current mid-size Nissan Frontier and its counterpart, the Mitsubishi Triton, sold in international markets.
A sneak peek provided in Nissan’s video presentation reveals a silhouette reminiscent of a crew-cab pickup with a short bed, hinting at the forthcoming truck’s design. Both electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options are under consideration, aligning with Nissan’s earlier exploration of an electric pickup concept showcased in the Surf-Out concept.