After collaborating for years to build minicars and other vehicles for the Japanese market, Nissan and Mitsubishi are now planning the near-future launch of their first major joint project in the western hemisphere – the production of hybrid vehicles in North America.
The joint effort will take several years to materialize, but will lead to the eventual launch of several hybrid and all-electric vehicles for North American consumers, Automotive News reports.
Nissan and Mitsubishi are cooperating in an effort to achieve the economies of scale needed to bring new models to North America profitably. While the details are still hazy, it appears the partners will bring two pickup truck models and two crossover models to North America, manufactured in Mexico and then exported both to the USA and South America.
The alliance gives Nissan access to Mitsubishi’s plug-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology, while in return, Mitsubishi gains the use of Nissan’s electric vehicle tech. In this way, each strengthens the other’s portfolio while avoiding the expense in both money and time involved in research and development of the technology each currently lacks.
Seemingly, there will be both a Nissan pickup and a Mitsubishi pickup, each available in both a PHEV and an all-electric (EV) configuration. Nissan will get a new-generation Frontier while Mitsubishi will get its first PHEV and EV pickup models to compete in the American auto market. Just like the current Frontier, these pickups will rival the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon in the midsize pickup segment.
As for crossovers, sharing technology between the partners will enable Nissan to introduce a plug-in hybrid crossover in North America, while Mitsubishi will roll out an all-electric crossover. The pickup models are expected to arrive in three to seven years, or somewhere between 2027 and 2031, while a schedule for the crossovers has not yet been publicly revealed.
The mid-size plug-in hybrid and fully electric pickups will fill a gap in Mitsubishi’s American vehicle lineup in particular. While Nissan sells the Frontier in the U.S. – and in fact saw sales of the model grow 26 percent in 2021 – the current Mitsubishi L200/Triton can’t be brought to the U.S. because import tariffs would make it prohibitively expensive on the market.
The partners are looking into development of hybrid models at a time when EV demand is somewhat lower than expected, while demand for hybrids is strong. GM is backpedaling on its original plan to skip hybrids entirely and is now gearing up to add PHEVs to its lineup, with the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain as likely initial candidates.
Next-generation Chevy Equinox PHEV for the Chinese market
The General already has several mass-market BEVs in production, including the Chevy Blazer EV and Chevy Equinox EV. Meanwhile, the Buick Electra E5 is also planned for a North American debut.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM competition news, GM business news, GM electric vehicle news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
This media release was the most ambiguous I’ve seen in years and basically said nothing. Nissan now has Honda on board for EV tech, so parts of this make little sense. Wait for more concrete info.
A turbo 4 PHEV with 250hp gas engine and 90hp electric would be a good setup for a midsize truck that can still manage decent towing numbers and net great city mpg and electric range (when not towing)
It’s interesting to note that Outlander ICE sales were up big time in Q1 while Outlander PHEV sales tanked. Pricing could be an issue since it’s WAY overpriced, but there’s that cord that I keep talking about that buyers want nothing to do with, EV or PHEV. And automakers are again turning a blind eye with PHEVs.
Ford is also doing plug in Ranger be intresting to see if GM responds
I believe that GM has changed its direction and Going with gas engine, / Electric combo. for future Med Pickup trucks !
I am interested in seeing the Mitsubishi L200/Triton come the US, or something similar.