Surprised? Neither are we. From the moment Chrysler execs mooted a Nissan hook-up—a moment born of Congress-appeasing desperation—we heard rumblings that it wasn’t gonna happen dot autoextremist. Our sources in The Volunteer State volunteered the information that nothing was happening, Nissan-wise. Again, no surprise. If the Nissan will build us a competitive car (’cause we don’t have a fucking clue, mate) and we’ll sell ’em Rams to rebadge as Titans deal was going down, Chrysler wouldn’t have floated il madre of trial balloons known as the great FIAT giveaway. Still, as any good Catholic automaker knows, confirmation is a big moment in a bogus story’s life. Although they were happy to repeat the propaganda without question at the time, Reuters rocks!
“Nissan Motor Co and Chrysler LLC said Thursday they had halted work on a product-based tie-up while both sides consider how to improve the projected financial returns on the 10-month-old deal.” Improve the projected returns? Will someone tell these guys that Congress is stupid, but not THAT stupid? Oh wait, maybe they are.
“Nissan said it would still supply Chrysler with a compact car based on its Versa model for the U.S. automaker to sell in South America beginning later this year.”
South Africa? Whoa, that’ll help them pay back that $7b-or-bust federal loan the U.S. taxpayer is underwriting for Chrysler’s private equity overlords. As Paul Simon sang in Loves Me Like a Rock, “Who do you think you’re fooling?” [Jeff must say “whom,” but he doesn’t have a Grammy.]
Good. I’ve had a couple of Nissan’s, have one now still. I guess that makes me a bit of a fan. I’m happy they won’t be tainted with Chrysler’s all-consuming horribleness.
“Nissan said it would still supply Chrysler with a compact car based on its Versa model for the U.S. automaker to sell in South America beginning later this year.”
South Africa? Whoa…
Different continents, yo.
So does this mean the Ram based “Titan” replacement is dead? Probably for the best. After all, if you have tooling, dies, machinery, a production plant and have engineered a product, spent the money on it and your dealers already carry parts, etc., why replace it with a rebadged competitor?
Perhaps if Nissan simply adds the planned commercial trucks to the plant in which they build the current Titans, they could continue with both until it is no longer viable to continue with the Titan. Spend some money on periodic restyles (bending metal is not too expensive), upgrades and maybe some actual marketing behind it once the economy starts to do a bit better….
Besides, if the commercial trucks and vans are a success, fleet buyers may be encouraged to buy real Nissan built Titans, too.
Nissan will buy a Grand Caravan plant after bankruptcy… Not a very glamorous vehicle, but it has the potential to make Nissan a buck.
Official statement is “On hold”.
It isn’t cancelled, but it isn’t going forward either.
they’re going to push a Dodge-branded Nissan in South America, where Fiat sells most of its cars (Brazil). Sure makes as much sense as anything else Chysler does…
Robbie: that’s effing genious. Don’t buy the farm if you can get the cows cheap after the barn burns down.
Nissan’s minivan designs have gone nowhere. Buying cheap and Nissan-izing the Dodge Grand Caravan might work. Arguing against are VW’s abysmal Routan experience and U.S. and Canadian union-friendly successor legislation. Nissan would inherit the profit-robbing, non-stop pain in the ass UAW and CAW workforces.
U.S. and Canadian union-friendly successor legislation. Nissan would inherit the profit-robbing, non-stop pain in the ass UAW and CAW workforces.
Would that be true if they moved the plants, from Canada to the US or vice versa?
I imagine that wouldn’t apply if they moved the whole shooting match off the continent, although I am sure their would be lots of screaming from pols and union leaders.
Still, if I were Nissan I would consider it…the Titan sucks in terms of both sales and reliability.
Official statement is “On hold”.
Officially, GM’s rotary engine development project is still on hold as well. Just as it has been for over 30 years.
“Nissan would inherit the profit-robbing, non-stop pain in the ass UAW and CAW workforces.”
Not the way it works. When a company buys assets of another company they do not inherit related labor contracts. Nissan would be under no obligation to keep union contracts or workers. Nissan might choose to offer employment to some of the prior owner’s employees, but that wouldn’t come along with a union contract.
” ..consider how to improve the projected financial returns on the 10-month-old deal.” Improve the projected returns?
My 20 year experience with spreadsheets says — up the selling price! Works every time, especially so in this make-believe scenario which never had a chance.
Successor Rights and Obligations
Why couldn’t Nissan simply move the minivan production line lock stock and barrel to Mexico where they could build the vehicles cheaply, without the irritations of UAW or CAW workers? And, who knows, perhaps they’d even consider upgrading the things to include coils instead of leaf springs on the rear axles.
It doesn’t say much about how a Versa would do in a head-on with an F-250 (not well), but that crash test looks to be a good result.