Accelerating Global Partnership

The partnership between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler has begun to accelerate. It has been three full years since the strategic cooperation between the two manufacturers was first announced in April 2010. The alliance spans a wide range of areas, and the companies, which started with three collaborative projects, have now expanded to encompass ten projects.



As previously reported, the concept car unveiled by Infiniti at thisFrankfurt Motor Show, which will begin production in the UK in 2014 as the Infiniti "Q30," is a sister model to Mercedes-Benz'sMercedes-BenznewA-ClassandB-Class.

Mercedes-Benz A Class｜メルセデス・ベンツ A クラス

Infiniti Q30 Concept｜インフィニティ Q30 コンセプト

While the Infiniti Q30's debut is a future event, a concrete example that end-users can experience immediately is the model already launched in Europe as the Mercedes-Benz "Citan." This is based on the RenaultKangoo, given a Mercedes-Benz grille, and is positioned as the successor to the Mercedes-Benz "Vaneo."



Furthermore,the 2013 Detroit Motor Show, and which had its European premiere at the springGeneva Motor Showis also a product of the cooperation between the two companies. This Infiniti " Q50" (scheduled for commercial production in Japan as the next-generation Skyline) will soon be launched in various European countries as the first Infiniti to adopt a Daimler-made diesel engine and automatic transmission.

Collaboration on Compact Cars and Commercial Vehicles

The joint development project for theSmartandTwingois also one of the important plans. The " "fourjoy" " concept car, unveiled by Daimler at this Frankfurt Motor Show, represents a new family of Smart cars and is a four-seater compact car, the first since the Smart "Forfour" which ended production in 2006. It is based on the successor model to the Renault Twingo, and both models will be produced at Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia. Conversely, the new two-seater "Smart" will be produced at the Smart plant in Hambach, France. The successful launch and expansion of variations for the next-generation "Smart" are also a result of such collaboration.fourjoyThe joint development project for the "Smart" and "Twingo" is also one of the important plans. The "fourjoy" concept car, unveiled by Daimler at this Frankfurt Motor Show, represents a new family of Smart cars and is a four-seater compact car, the first since the Smart "Forfour" which ended production in 2006. It is based on the successor model to the Renault Twingo, and both models will be produced at Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia. Conversely, the new two-seater "Smart" will be produced at the Smart plant in Hambach, France. The successful launch and expansion of variations for the next-generation "Smart" are also a result of such collaboration.

Renault Twin'RUN Concept｜ルノー トゥインラン コンセプト

Smart fourjoy｜スマート フォージョイ

Furthermore, a production facility for the four-cylinder engines used by both companies has been constructed in Decherd, Tennessee, USA. This facility was newly built on the grounds of Nissan's powertrain assembly plant and was completed in just 18 months from the start of construction in May 2012. Engine production is scheduled to begin in mid-2014, and the engines are expected to be installed in Mercedes-Benz "C-Class" models produced at Daimler's plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and in new Infiniti models.



Collaboration is also underway in the commercial vehicle sector. Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Daimler Truck's Asia division, plans to launch the commercial van "NV350 Caravan" in overseas markets, supplied by Nissan. Conversely, the Mitsubishi Fuso small truck "Canter Guts" (2.0-ton class payload) is supplied to Nissan, and the Nissan small truck "Atlas F24" (1.5-ton class payload) is supplied to Mitsubishi Fuso.

Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, stated at the auto show, "Initially, we focused on joint projects in Europe, but now we are focusing on synergies in all key markets. The greatest economies of scale are always global."



Meanwhile, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler and Chairman of Mercedes-Benz, commented, "We will continue to pursue new projects that are meaningful to our customers and partners."

Mercedes-Benz Citan｜メルセデス・ベンツ シタン

As the third-largest alliance, following the Volkswagen Group and the Toyota Group, we expect the emergence of distinctive models that assert their respective brands, alongside the pursuit of economies of scale. We are no longer in an era where a new model that merely differs in grille design is appreciated. Daimler, which dissolved its nine-year partnership with Chrysler in 2007, must surely feel this more keenly than anyone.