Nissan and Mitsubishi have announced that the current generation Nissan Navara one-tonne pickup truck will be manufactured at Mitsubishi Motors’ Laem Chabang plant in Chonburi, Thailand. This means that both the Navara and rival Mitsubishi Triton will roll off the same factory. Production under this deal is scheduled to commence in 2012.
We’re not surprised by this, as it was already spelled out last December as part of a wider agreement to expand the scope of cooperation between the two companies. In the longer term, the two companies are looking at a manufacturing and engineering collaboration for a new generation one-tonne pickup truck. In other words, the next Triton and Navara will be sisters.
This follows an announcement in June about the establishment of a joint venture company to develop minicars for both brands. This, and the pickup deal, is expected to reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of both companies.
