Nissan NP300 Will Span Renault, Mercedes Variants, Argentinian Plant

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Nissan’s new Navara pickup will spawn variants for both Renault and Mercedes-Benz, with the three trucks likely to be built at a new plant in Argentina.

The new trucks are said to be based on the all-new D23 trucks, which will form the basis for the new global Navara pickup. While the D23 will also play a part in the development of our next-generation Frontier, the architecture will require substantial re-working to be compliant with our FMVSS regulations. As it stands now, the D23 would not come close to passing U.S. crash tests, making it unlikely that we’ll see the M-B pickups on our shores.

Derek Kreindler
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 18 comments
  • Wstarvingteacher Wstarvingteacher on Apr 08, 2015

    What a surprise that it won't be sold here. It takes a trip out of the country to get a good grasp of all that we are missing. I normally come back with an assorted batch of mechanical desires.

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    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Apr 08, 2015

      Beerboy12, there's a lot going in truckdom. It is a very lucrative chunk of the market. Even GM knows it. This from Automotive News, "GM is mulling a $1.3 billion expansion of its Arlington, Texas, assembly plant to boost production of SUVs, according to documents from the city. The company says the investment would fund improvements aimed at enhancing the factory's manufacturing capability. " They'll work out the alliances and problems. One thing we can be sure of is that the $40K full-size half-ton pickup truck is here to stay. And SUVs are also going up in price. IOW, if you're going to buy one, do it sooner rather than later. They won't get any cheaper.

  • Morbo Morbo on Apr 08, 2015

    As a former 2003 Ford Ranger owner, I occasionally pine for a small, easy to park in the city, tough little truck that's good for home depot hauling. Then I remember the recent accident I saw in South Jersey. Same make / model Ranger like mine, one car accident in the pine barrens. Ranger slid off the road in an ice storm and hit a tree. or rather, the tree sheared off the drivers side of the truck like a hot knife into butter. No survivors, probably fortunately given how bad the truck was split. For all the wanting of a little trucklet again, I'll take our safety standards any day. I've known one guy that walked away from slamming (being pushed) into a concrete post at 40 MPH head on, thanks to modern Mazda. Another guy I know walked away from being T-Boned at 50, spinning into the traffic light post, and having the light post fall onto his Chrysler 300. And my former jackhole governor (Corzine) rolling his taxpayer funded Tahoe at 90 MPH, and eventually walking away from it (unfortunately in that case). Point being, those safety standards are valuable, and I don't want them sacrificed just to fit my admittedly narrow desires for a trucklet.

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    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Apr 08, 2015

      @Morbo, Do not pine for this or any other "1Tonne" Pickup, they are early 2000's sized 1/2 tons. Try the car based mini Pickups they have in Brazil,or Mexico

  • Speed3 Speed3 on Apr 08, 2015

    At first I thought this was a terrible idea, and I still think its a mistake for MB to sell rebadged Nissans, but this will probably end up being a hit. If GMC were a global brand the GMC Canyon Denali could be a competitor. Considering the surprise success (?) of the Escalade EXT, I think GM should at least look into a Cadillac version of the Canyon Denali for Global markets. What do you all think? Would a Cadillac Truck be the right move?

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    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Apr 08, 2015

      @Speed 3 Several markets outside the U.S. It will be marketed as a very carlike work truck, with a considerable payload up to 3,000lb and Mercedes car like qualities

  • Oberkanone Oberkanone on Apr 09, 2015

    There is a group at Nissan working to develop a new truck based off of the D22 currently sold in Mexico and other markets. D22 is smaller than D40 Frontier currently sold in United States and it's smaller than new D23 global Navarra. If they can get this new D22 to meet US safety standards then Nissan will have pickup they can market in US that is smaller, lighter, lower cost and more fuel efficent than midsize trucks from Toyota. Assembly would move to Aguascalientes, Mexico to meet cost targets and free up capacity in Canton for additional Titan volume and other Canton assembled products. D23 Nissan, Renault and high probability of the Mercedes version pickup assembly at Curitiba, Brazil. Not Argentina. Someone at TTAC knows about the D22 project - http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/06/exclusive-nissan-will-forgo-navara-bring-small-affordable-pickup-to-north-america-as-the-next-frontier/

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