The renowned firms of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Renault-Nissan Alliance have recently collaborated to venture into the automobile market with new projects in line, including electric cars. According to these firms, this partnership will allow them to share technologies and production workforce, thereby co-developing future products, especially electric-run vehicles.
However, in June 2011, Mitsubishi and Nissan made an alliance, called NMKV that co-produced Kei cars, a small vehicle run in Japan. Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon were the first cars that came out from this partnership in the market of Japan. These vehicles were manufactured in Mitsubishi Mizushima plant, Japan. Now, to produce an all-new electric vehicle, the partnership of NMKV has been extended to join hands with Renault. On this collaboration, Renault-Nissan Alliance in a statement, said, “As a consequence, it has been agreed that the strategic cooperation between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors could be expanded across the broader Renault-Nissan Alliance.”
It further added that, “Between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, it is expected that the existing NMKV joint-venture company will be extended to co-develop a new small-segment car including a specific electric version that can be sold on a global basis. The basis for this product will be from a jointly developed ‘Kei car’ platform of the type popular in the Japanese domestic market. Further details of all products, markets and manufacturing will be announced separately. ”
According to Carlos Ghosn, the Chief Executive Officer and President of Renault-Nissan Alliance, the past collaborations of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have benefited monetary gains, specially the recent joint-venture to bring out Kei cars in Japan. Ghosn was quoted as saying, “I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.”
According to the statement of Renault-Nissan Alliance, under the hood of Mitsubishi firm, there would be two all-new sedan models launched. These products will be based on the work of Renault's existing vehicles. Here, it is noteworthy to mention that the first sedan model will be made at the Renault-Samsung plant, South Korea. This product would compete in the US and Canada's D-segment market. Whereas, it has been said that the other sedan model would be competing globally in the C-segment market. However, the location of its manufacturing is still under point of discussion.
Osamu Masuko, the President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation said, “The new opportunities could be described as evidence that the ongoing collaborative projects between Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan have brought positive results, and Mitsubishi Motors hopes that any new collaborative projects with the Renault-Nissan Alliance would bring us further merits.”
