Chrysler and Nissan Part Ways On Platform Sharing

Administrator · 08-27-2009, 08:24 AM

Chrysler and Nissan have officially canceled plans to work together on a number of platform sharing opportunities. Previous plans would have seen Chrysler supply Nissan with the next generation Titan pickup truck, in exchange for Nissan supplying Chrysler with a small car for international markets, as well as a rebadged Nissan Versa for South America.

With Chrysler now owned by Fiat, the U.S. automaker now has access to a long list of small car platforms at its disposal. Nissan, however, isn't so lucky. Nissan will continue to built the Titan pickup truck at its Canton, Miss., plant through 2011, but beyond that point the Japanese automaker has no plans.

"We're exploring our options," said Fred Standish, Nissan North America spokesman.

Nissan is now left with two choices, to either find another automaker who will supply a platform or to develop its own on an tight schedule. There is also the possibility that the Titan pickup could be scrapped entirely.

More: Chrysler and Nissan Part Ways On Platform Sharing on AutoGuide.com

**P's Titan** · 08-27-2009, 08:28 AM

saw that coming for months...

but scrapping the Titan is not a good thing to read

**Blackbeauty** · 08-27-2009, 08:29 AM

Well, if the damned NISSAN execs would tell Ghosn that the "French" method of advertising, namely the "We have the best. If the rest of the world does not know that, that is their problem..." approach doesn't work to sell your product, then we might stand a chance in the market.

This truck is an incredible "Bang for the Buck" unit and has more power and drivability than most other options out there. It's just plain fun to drive... but only WE know that....

Pathetic French.....

BigA · 08-27-2009, 09:07 AM

I saw that coming too, Nissan has spent to much time ****ing around with this, they just need to build the truck themselves and be done with it, thing is they got rid of most of the engineers that were suppose to work on the next gen Titan when they decided to go with Dodge, so it would be a few years before they can get anything new to market.

AEConfidential · 08-30-2009, 05:45 PM

This is good news because chrysler is garbage. I recently sold a chrysler vehicle so I know all about their quality.

Foo · 09-02-2009, 01:55 AM

That's no good.

mad8vskillz · 09-02-2009, 11:49 AM

bummer about possibility of scrapped entirely. hopefully sales pick up (no pun intended) and they realise they've got a good thing going

has anyone else noticed that the new dodge ram looks eerily similar to the current titan? not similar enough to be identical, but very close in all the lines except the grille

bobo993 · 09-11-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad8vskillz

bummer about possibility of scrapped entirely. hopefully sales pick up (no pun intended) and they realise they've got a good thing going

has anyone else noticed that the new dodge ram looks eerily similar to the current titan? not similar enough to be identical, but very close in all the lines except the grille

Ya, every time I see the new Dodge I do a double take. From the driver door back its a very similar. The only thing about the dodge thats in any way really different is the front end angle thingy going on.

Rideutah · 09-20-2009, 05:06 PM

Honestly, I'm glad to hear it. I am not a fan of the Chrysler products, they have some innovative looks, but they just don't hold up. However, I hate the thought of them cancelling the titan. If they did 3 simple things they would see the titan really take off:

1. Increase availability - Have you seen how few there are on lots anymore?
2. Increase advertising - They started off good, but the advertising has dropped drastically.
3. Beef it up to a 3/4 ton suspension/trans/rear end. The engine is a great power plant. The truck finds its weaknesses in the size of the rear end and strength of the suspension. They could easily beef this truck up to a 3/4 with the same engine.

Unfortunately, I think #s 1 and 2 above may be big indicators that the titan may not be around for much longer. There is not another truck out there that I can really consider. I already mentioned the Dodge, Ford has low power and seems to have a major mechanical issue (trans, rear end, or something else major) at shortly over 100k miles, GM always has some engineering and electrical troubles, and is also short on power. The nearest I can think would be the Tundra. Power is about equal to the Titan, but that truck is butt-ugly, doesn't have the leg-room in the back, and I really don't like the design options available.

Long live the Titan!

Heavy-H · 10-11-2009, 08:09 PM

So, is the Titan based on a Dodge platform? What?

Rideutah · 10-12-2009, 08:38 AM

The next generation Titan WAS going to be a collaboration with Dodge, and would have likely been on a Dodge platform. However, that plan appears to be scrapped. It is still an all-Nissan product. Let's hope it stays that way and they don't just cancel the line. They just need to beef up the suspension to a 3/4 ton suspension & rear end. The engine could handle the loads.