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Nissan NP300 Will Span Renault, Mercedes Variants, Argentinian Plant

by Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
April 8th, 2015 10:22 AM
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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.
Published April 8th, 2015 10:22 AM
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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.
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.
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?
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/