Nissan, Mitsubishi Partners on Latest Venture: EV, Pickup Truck for US Market

Apr 02, 2024 09:28 PM EDT

GREY SUV MITSUBISHI — (Photo : PEXELS/Toms Svilans)

Nissan and Mitsubishi are pioneering a line of electric cars for the US market. This calculated risk-taking seeks to minimize development costs during a time when the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) has stalled, forcing top automakers to switch to plug-in hybrids as a temporary fix until EV sales pick back up.

Nissan, Mitsubishi's Partnership

Together, Nissan and Mitsubishi are innovating on forthcoming offerings destined for North American roads. This collaboration is anticipated to encompass a plug-in hybrid offering from Nissan, an EV model from Mitsubishi, and a mutually crafted mid-size pickup truck manufactured in Mexico.

Based on insights from EVs InsideEVs Global, the current landscape reveals a gap in the U.S. market where Mitsubishi lacks all-electric vehicle offerings while Nissan's lineup excludes plug-in hybrids. Neither automaker has ventured into the world of battery-powered pickup trucks thus far. However, an imminent shift is coming.

The report cited Automotive News sharing that Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida envisions a ground-breaking alliance between Nissan and Mitsubishi. Such partnership is designed especially for the American market. The alliance targets to produce at least three distinctive vehicles.

Nissan plans to bring a plug-in hybrid car in the United States. It wants to use Mitsubishi technology, just like with the Outlander PHEV. While Mitsubishi wants a vehicle in the US that may even incorporate technology from the well-liked Ariya crossover.

Everyone may anticipate the launch of two models by Nissan and Mitsubishi in the electric vehicle sector in the next two years.

EV, Pickup for US Market

Notably this partnership will bring the potential development of a collaborative truck that could give rise to both plug-in hybrid and EV versions. This move aligns with Nissan's ambitious three-year roadmap aimed at revitalizing its product lineup and debuting seven new models across the United States by 2026.

Recent insights from Car and Driver shed light on Nissan's forward-looking "Arc" strategy, which outlines a collaborative effort between Nissan and Mitsubishi to co-create an innovative next-generation pickup truck tailored for the US market.

The plan includes manufacturing this vehicle in Mexico, potentially positioning it as a successor to the existing mid-size Nissan Frontier and the comparably sized Mitsubishi Triton available in international markets.

This strategic move signifies a significant step towards bolstering both brands' presence in the competitive pickup truck segment, emphasizing their commitment to delivering cutting-edge EV solutions to discerning consumers.

According to Road & Track, Mitsubishi has established itself in several pickup truck markets, most notably Mexico, where it offers the fifth-generation Triton under the L200 brand. This vehicle was created in partnership with the former Fiat Chrysler and sold under the names Fullback and, in some areas, Ram 1200.

While these models did not make their way to the American market, including the sixth-generation Triton launched recently, the ongoing partnership between Mitsubishi and Nissan holds the promise of introducing a new range of successors for US Mitsubishi dealers, encompassing gas-powered, hybrid, and all-electric variants, signaling a potential expansion of Mitsubishi's offerings in the evolving American automotive landscape.