For the first time, Nissan and Mitsubishi will collaborate on products for the North American market
- This collaboration allows Nissan to tap into Mitsubishi’s experience with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).
- Mitsubishi, on the other hand, will gain access to Nissan’s established electric vehicle (EV) technology
- The two companies will develop a pickup truck that will be built in Mexico, avoiding the United States’ infamous chicken tax.
For the first time since they became alliance partners, Nissan and Mitsubishi will partner on vehicles for the North American market. The companies will trade electrification technology, which will give Mitsubishi an EV, Nissan a plug-in hybrid, and will lead to the creation of a pickup truck for both brands.
The plans will help each automaker navigate the difficulties of developing electrified powertrains, and will help them cut costs. Perhaps the most exciting product for North Americans will be the pickup truck, which is expected to act as the followup to the Frontier for Nissan.
Read: Nissan’s “The Arc” Business Plan Includes Indian, Middle East, Aussie SUVs And Pickup
Meanwhile, it may finally give Mitsubishi dealers the pickup truck they have wanted for years, reports Autonews. Although it sells the Triton pickup overseas, America’s chicken tax has prevented the automaker from selling the truck here. Assembled in Mexico, the new pickup will be not subject to the 25 percent tariff. In the long term, the automakers may also decide to add hybrid and electric drivetrain options to the truck, though that has not been officially decided.
What may be just as exciting for Nissan dealers will be the plug-in hybrid vehicle that the Nissan gets in this technology exchange. The automaker might have long sold EVs in the U.S., but it was caught off-guard by the recent interest in hybrids.
Although it’s not clear what the product will look like, Mitsubishi currently sells the Outlander PHEV in the U.S. The model combines a 2.4-liter engine with two electric motors that deliver 248 hp (185 kW / 251 PS) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. A 20 kWh battery pack provides up to 38 miles (61 km) of electric-only driving range.
Finally, Mitsubishi will get an EV out of the deal, by utilizing Nissan technology. Again, it isn’t clear precisely what the new product will look like, but Nissan’s latest EV is the Ariya, which is offered with either a 63 kWh or an 87 kWh battery. That gives drivers between 216 and 304 miles (348-489 km) of driving range, and the crossover can deliver up to 389 hp (290 kW / 394 PS) and 442 lb-ft (599 Nm) of torque.
While the new pickup truck is expected to arrive between 2027 and 2031, there is no indication as to when the Mitsubishi EV or the Nissan PHEV will hit the market. However, the automakers say that working together will be important because each brand needs help to “fill strategic gaps” in their lineups.
