Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan
Size still matters, but the quest to be number one is also getting more headlines. Mercedes-Benz is the latest to stake its future on taking the top slot, with CEO Dieter Zetsche aiming to be the world’s largest premium maker by 2020. The specific number is 2.7 million vehicles sold that year, which represents an astronomical jump from 2011 sales of 1.26 million vehicles.
To home in on that target, Mercedes intends to build factories in China and in North America – either Mexico or the U.S. – with the North American factory coming online by 2018, according to a report in Auto News. The facility here would build the “next generation A class together with Daimler’s strategic partner Nissan.”
Mercedes didn’t offer any clarification on the Nissan component or what else a new facility might build, nor what the synergies might be with it and the engine deal recently signed between Daimler and Renault-Nissan.
Daimler planning to open new plant in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan
Mercedes-Benz and Nissan plan on working together in the future, sharing the Mercedes A-Class platform and engines in an effort save cash on engineering and manufacturing resources. A big part of that collaboration is now official with a joint engine announcement.
Nissan will produce high-end four-cylinder engines at its Decherd, Tennessee facility. The engine will find its way under the hood of Mercedes and Infiniti models beginning in 2014, with a max capacity of 250,000 units per year.
Both automakers are understandably excited about the strategic announcement. Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn called the tie-up “our most significant project outside of Europe so far.” Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche added that the co-op will help Mercedes achieve its expansion goals, adding that the engine agreement will “make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation.”
Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release. Daimler also issued the exact same release, except the German automaker swapped names so that Daimler appeared before Nissan.
Continue reading Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee
Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Earnings/Financials, South America
Automotive News reports that Nissan and Daimler may team up on a joint-assembly plant in Mexico. The two automakers are currently finalizing plans that could see a facility open by 2014 to produce up to 200,000 vehicles per year for the North American market. If the project gets the green light from both automakers, the endeavor will cost around $1 billion. Nissan, Renault and Daimler entered into an alliance in 2010 to produce engines and vehicles. This move would be the latest fruit of that endeavor. One proposal has Nissan fielding the cost of construction, leaving Daimler to take on a capital stake in operating the facility.
Automotive News reports that Daimler has declined to comment on the project. If realized, the plant would be the first Mexican facility to produce Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles in the country. As of right now, Daimler’s plants in the country are responsible for building large trucks and buses.
Nissan, Daimler looking to make cars together in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Smart
Hot on the heels of the news that Penske and Smart have split comes word that the Smart/Nissan collaboration is dead. Automotive News is reporting that the project, which was intended to yield a four-door model built off of a Nissan platform and sold under the Smart banner, won’t be happening. The reason is simple enough; if Smart had continued to blaze its own trail here in America, it would have needed at least one additional model to support itself. Now that it’s part of the Mercedes-Benz network, that need has been diminished significantly.
Meanwhile, there’s some concern that a separate Nissan/Renault collaboration project called the Quattro may be axed as well. With the slaughter of multiple projects and Penske walking away, more than a few minds have begun to wonder if this is the end for Smart in the Land of the Free. According to the Automotive News report, however, Roger Penske says that’s not the case.
Penske said that the fact that Smart is being handed off to Mercedes-Benz is nothing compared to the death of Hummer or Mercury, and that his company simply didn’t have the volume or marketing muscle to push Smart effectively.
Either way, AN says that the transition to Benz dealerships means that the Smart dealership network will shrink significantly, leaving just 58 dealers across the country. That’s because 21 Smart showrooms that aren’t paired with Mercedes models won’t get to keep their franchises.
Gallery: New Nissan/Smart Small Car Sketch
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Report: Nissan-based four-door Smart scrapped originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Europe, Crossover, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rumormill, Luxury
If you believe the rumors dusting up from L’Automobile Magazine, Nissan may be borrowing more than a small engine from Daimler. The French site is reporting that the two companies could be looking into sharing an entire platform in order to create a new Infiniti-badged CUV. If our Google translator is to be believed, the French site claims that Infiniti will be getting its paws on the next Mercedes-Benz A/B Class in order to build a new DX model destined to slot below the current EX.
The move would put Infiniti into the CUV fray with fighters like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 if it came to fruition. Right now, that’s a big if. As far as we know, Infiniti hasn’t said word one about building a smaller crossover, even if it would help the brand gain traction in the notoriously truck-averse European market, and it already sells the EX, itself a rather smallish entrant (that looks suspiciously like the rendering excerpted at right). L’Automobile Magazine says the move is currently under consideration by both Renault-Nissan and Daimler, but we wouldn’t exactly hold our breath for a new pint-sized Infiniti.
[Source: L'Automobile Magazine]
Rumormill: Infiniti to offer entry-level CUV based on Benz A/B Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault
Renault-Nissan’s partnership with Daimler is only a couple of days old, but the three companies have already divulged plenty of information on possible synergies. For example, the three automakers will work together on a small car platform that will one day underpin the Renault Twingo and future Smart cars. The companies will also collaborate on engine projects and share U.S. factory space.
Automotive News reports that another area where the three companies can find synergies is with commercial vans. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche intimated as much during the press conference, adding “we have no concrete plans yet, but these are certainly areas of investigation which might lead to results.” Nissan is just getting its feet wet in the segment with the spanking new NV2500, while Daimler has a much more established van, the extremely capable (if pricey) Sprinter. Since commercial vans is one of the few areas where the companies will compete, the best way to combine efforts is through the manufacturing process.
The NV2500 begins production in Canton, Miss this fall, while the Sprinter is assembled from imported kit components at Daimler’s Charleston, S.C. plant. Since Daimler doesn’t have an engine plant in the U.S., the German automaker can benefit financially from Nissan engines built in Decherd, Tennessee. The move would improve Nissan’s economies of scale at its engine plant, while Daimler stands to save metric tons of money, since European labor costs are high and the company loses cash by the bucket due to the high value of the euro compared to the dollar. Sounds like a cargo-hauling match made in heaven to us.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Report: New Renault-Nissan tieup with Daimler could result in commercial van linkages originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Budget, Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault, Electric, Diesel
At a news conference in Brussels, Belgium this morning, Daimler AG and the Renault-Nissan alliance officially announced that the three automakers would collaborate on future products and that each would exchange shares in the other companies. The deal has been rumored for months, and Daimler has been looking for a partner to help spread the costs of small car development for years.
Under the new agreement, Daimler will hold a 3.1-percent stake in Renault and Nissan and the existing alliance partners will hold an identical stake in the German company. The partners will develop a combined platform that will be used as the basis for the next generations of the Renault Twingo and Smart cars, including a new four-seater. These new models will launch in 2013 and the current Smart factory in France will continue building the two-seat version. The new four-seater, along with the Twingo, will be built at a Renault factory in Slovenia. All three vehicles will be available from launch in gas, diesel and electric drive variants.
The automakers will also share powertrains for other models. Renault-Nissan will provide small gas and diesel engines to Daimler for use in its smaller cars, including presumably the next generation A, B and perhaps even C-Class Mercedes-Benz models. Going the other way, Daimler will provide some of its engines to Nissan for use in Infiniti models. The partners will also collaborate on light commercial vehicles, with Renault providing a new entry-level van to be sold as a Mercedes.
[Sources: Renault, Daimler]
Continue reading Officially Official: Renault-Nissan and Daimler announce alliance
Officially Official: Renault-Nissan and Daimler announce alliance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Nissan, Smart, Earnings/Financials, Renault
According to an unnamed source speaking to Reuters, the Renault board of directors has called an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, April 6th, to discuss plans to enter into an agreement with German automaker Daimler. As was the case when Renault teamed up with Japanese automaker Nissan, there will reportedly be an exchange of stock, but not nearly at the same level as Renault’s 44-percent stake in Nissan.
If the board chooses to move forward – and all indications are that it will – an announcement could be made as early as Wednesday detailing the partnership. It’s widely thought that Daimler is keenly interested in Renault’s small car expertise for its less-than-wildly-successful Smart car division, and it seems increasingly likely that the two automakers could jointly develop new city car platforms. Might a more family-friendly ForFour (previous generation seen above) be in the offing as rumored? Stay tuned.
[Source: Reuters]
Report: Daimler, Renault-Nissan alliance could be announced Wednesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Nissan, Smart, Earnings/Financials, Renault
According to an unnamed source speaking to Reuters, the Renault board of directors has called an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, April 6th, to discuss plans to enter into an agreement with German automaker Daimler. As was the case when Renault teamed up with Japanese automaker Nissan, there will reportedly be an exchange of stock, but not nearly at the same level as Renault’s 44-percent stake in Nissan.
If the board chooses to move forward – and all indications are that it will – an announcement could be made as early as Wednesday detailing the partnership. It’s widely thought that Daimler is keenly interested in Renault’s small car expertise for its less-than-wildly-successful Smart car division, and it seems increasingly likely that the two automakers could jointly develop new city car platforms. Might a more family-friendly ForFour (previous generation seen above) be in the offing as rumored? Stay tuned.
[Source: Reuters]
Report: Daimler, Renault-Nissan alliance could be announced Wednesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Minivan/Van, Sedan, Hatchback, Nissan, Smart, Renault, Electric
The Daimler brain trust of Dieter Zetsche and Thomas Weber has reportedly struck a deal with Renault/Nissan to develop its next generation of minicars due out in 2014 or so. As you would expect, Daimler will get a new Smart Fortwo out of the deal while the Franco-Japanese conglomerate will use the design for unknown future models that could bear both the Nissan and Renault nameplates.
According to Automobile Magazine, Daimler insisted on retaining the Smart brand’s trademark rear-engine and rear-wheel drive configuration, which was somewhat understandably met with some trepidation by Renault. Also held over will likely be the steel safety cage design with interchangeable plastic body panels so the resulting vehicles will be safe and easily distinguishable from each other.
Not surprisingly, electric powertrains will be part of the mix, along with a newly developed 1.0-liter direct injected three-cylinder engine and a duo of 1.3- and 1.5-liter fours. The modular chassis may also be lengthened in order to spawn a new four-seat Fourfour and a taller Formore micro-minivan with sliding doors.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Smart move? Daimler reportedly teams with Renault for next-gen minicar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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