Speaking to journalists in Frankfurt, Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn told journalists that he’d be open to any alliance with an automaker if the opportunity presented itself.
“Any single opportunity we have in front of us … we will entertain,” Ghosn said, according to The Detroit Bureau.
Nissan and Daimler together released Wednesday an update on its joint projects including its factory in Aguascalientes, Mexico that’ll produce both the Infiniti Q30 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Ghosn signaled that the automakers would be open to future ventures based on the success of the current partnership.
“We have shown how two different car companies find common ground,” Ghosn said. “By spreading costs we can offer more products … without losing (brand) identity.”
The partnership is responsible for the Smart Fortwo/Renault Twingo, and the development of a Mercedes-branded 1-ton truck.
Of course, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Daimler have been down that road before, kind of. But it’s fun to talk about a tri-star branded Ram sometimes, right?
As I tell any of my friends when they ask if they should reunite with an ex, “there is a reason it didn’t work out before, that reason most likely will never go away, just move on”
Diamler/Chrysler days were sad days..shudder…
Things I would not buy: MB-Nissan-Fiat anything. As soon as you inject Fiat into any equation, the value to me becomes 0.
Styling by Nissan, powertrains by Fiat, interiors by Chrysler, bean counting by MB!
R&D by chrysler, electronics by MB
Still sounds better than a car with English electronics, Italian cooling systems, American build quality, Japanese design, and a German price tag would be.
And, Hecho en Mexico! (Components made in PRC.)
What could possibly go wrong?
You obviously never drove an early 1970s Fiat back in the day. The 1592cc or 1608cc engines were amazing. They rusted like hell, the owners manual came with a wiring diagram, but when you stripped out the smog pumps and put big Weber carbs on them, the over square engines revved like hell and were amazing to malaise era drivers. The Fiat 124 Sport Coupe is one of my favorite cars of the early 70”s with a freely revving engine, 4 wheel independent suspension and 4 disc brakes…coming from a Chevy Caprice with a big block swap, the Fiat felt like a space ship.
I was born in 1983. All those Fiats were dead by the time I was able to drive. They were mostly dead before I was even born.
I don’t know what will become of Chrysler, but if SRT disappears, I’ll have to go back to driving boring old Mercedes Benz S-class W222.
I went to check out a GLE AMG Coupe. Couldn’t even get in the thing. The ceiling was so low.
If the opportunity presents itself drive a bmw with the 3.0 twin turbo diesel in it. I have a 335d, which would most likely be a little tight on you, and its performance is astonishing.
“”“We have shown how two different car companies find common ground,” Ghosn said. “By spreading costs we can offer more products … without losing (brand) identity.”””
umm… when the Infinity uses a MercChrysler drive-train that identity is gone.
That dude has a hell of a ‘stache. If you grabbed him by his ankles you could push him around and sweep the floor.
mr bean with the pringles guy
Can’t unsee
very accurate.
That merger makes sense…in theory. In reality, I doubt it.
VW + Fiat Chrysler would make a good bit of sense, too. The results of that merger would probably blow the Daimler Chrysler reputation out of the water.
The photo at the top of this article looks like the promo shot for an awesome new sitcom.
Yes!!! The last German-Italian-Japanese alliance did so well for the world in the 1940s!!!
This is about the three Formula One engine makers finally getting together to snatch F1 away from Bernie, so good for them! Get rid of Pirelli too while you’re at it. Long live F1, long live Michelin!
This might be the best offer Sergio gets. Maybe he could talk them into buying FCA out and getting a golden parachute for himself.
FCA has excess capacity in Europe, as does Renault. No $ale.
Congrats on finally running something about this alliance. If you read the original Reuters article which is much more detailed, there is no chance of FCA joining the party as a merger. MB and Renault/Nissan run individual projects together and are happy with each other. As an alliance – they actually say they have no plans to merge in any manner. No way those two guys above are going to let Marchionne swan in and attempt to throw his weight around.