Report Points to Product Turmoil in the Nissan-Daimler Partnership

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

A report in a Japanese business publication claims the partnership that gave us the Infiniti QX30 crossover — built on the same MFA platform as the Mercedes-Benz GLA — won’t yield a compact Infiniti luxury car, as was planned.

This isn’t a case of bad blood between the two automakers, however. The United States just isn’t a ripe target for such a vehicle anymore, apparently, and the vastly uncertain trade situation doesn’t help.

The report in Nikkan Kogyo, picked up by Automotive News, claims America’s thirst for light trucks and increasing disdain for passenger cars brought the project to a screeching halt. Trade was another strong consideration for executives, the report stated. The unnamed model was to be built at the joint Nissan-Daimler assembly plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

You can see the problem here — a pricey vehicle in an increasingly difficult segment facing the prospect of being saddled with import duties. Hardly a product execs could confortable go through with.

While Nissan wouldn’t comment on the supposedly kiboshed vehicle, Infiniti spokesman Trevor Hale told Automotive News, “The cooperation between the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler is solid and we continue to reap the benefits of our successful cooperation, which includes a number of R&D and manufacturing initiatives around the world.”

The Aguascalientes facility (known as the COMPAS plant) opened last year, and currently builds the next-generation QX50. That model rides atop a jointly-developed platform. It was both automaker’s intent to produce next-generation luxury small cars at the facility.

In January of 2017, a Reuters report revealed signs of cold feet at Nissan. According to sources close to both companies, the automaker reportedly suspended work on Infiniti vehicles sharing Mercedes-Benz’s new MFA2 platform, which first appears in the upcoming A-Class sedan and (for Canadian customers) hatch. The new platform will underpin the next-gen Mercedes-Benz GLA and other small cars (B-class, CLA).

However, a source told Reuters that high technology costs made Nissan think again.

“It wasn’t possible to close a deal on the basis of MFA2,” said the informant. “The targets set by Infiniti were too difficult to achieve.”

[Image: Nissan]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Serpens Serpens on Jul 06, 2018

    The QX50 DOES NOT ride upon a jointly developed platform. It's riding on an upgraded platform that Nissan uses across its small/midsize FWD offerings. The future of Infiniti is largely FWD.

  • TMA1 TMA1 on Jul 06, 2018

    Nothing says Japanese luxury more than Mexican assembly.

    • Saturnotaku Saturnotaku on Jul 06, 2018

      German, too with Audi's new facility in the state of Puebla.

  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
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