Nissan and Mitsubishi Continue the Partnership for next-gen mini cars

MANILA: The Japanese auto giants, Nissan and Mitsubishi have once again decided to stay together to produce their next generation mini cars or Kei cars. It is heard that both of them are set to sign a memorandum of understanding for this undertaking.

Well, to take a leap in brief history, this is not the first time that they collaborated. Nissan currently shared their NV200 van and Fuga luxury sedan with Mitsubishi's Delica D:3 and Proudia Dignity. The two were also supposed to build a one ton pick-up together back in 2010 but plans fell through last year.

"Nissan's deeper involvement in development operations for next generation minicars will enable the easier application of advanced safety and eco-friendly technologies in larger vehicles. This new opportunity will enable us to deliver even more competitive vehicles to consumers by enhancing our product and lineup, by strengthening our partnership and combining the expertise of both companies." said Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan CCO.

The joint venture is called NMKV and here companies will be sharing platforms for the popular Kei car class. The primary objective of this venture is to “develop more competitive products by optimizing resource allocation and their respective roles and responsibilities.” Nissan will be focused on design and development whereas Mitsubishi will look after manufacturing. Cars under this agreement will be built at Mitsubishi's Mizushima Plant. This new agreement not only seeks to strengthen the relationship between the two but also aims to focus on electric powered Kei cars.

"Producing the new models at our Mizushima Plant, after the current model production ends, will help us further accelerate the improvement activities on which the three companies have been working together in the areas of production costs, efficiency and quality, and this will lead us to introduce more competitive products," said Mitsubishi President and COO Tetsuro Aikawa.

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