Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi are joining forces to catch up as the U. S. market shifts toward electric vehicles. Nissan and Mitsubishi will jointly expand an electric pickup truck for the U. S. market. Is this the all-electric frontier you’ve been waiting for?
Shortly after confirming a new EV partnership with rival Honda, Nissan announced a collaboration with Japan’s Mitsubishi.
Automakers are coming together after falling as the market goes electric beneath their feet. Nissan, once considered a leader in electric vehicles, with the launch of the LEAF in 2010, took more than a decade to launch its second electric vehicle in the world. the Ariya.
Now it’s a matter of making up for lost time. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida this week revealed the automaker’s plans to collaborate to conquer the U. S. market.
According to Automotive News, Nissan will launch its first plug-in hybrid in the U. S. with a system designed by Mitsubishi. On the other hand, Mitsubishi will launch its first electric vehicle made in North America with Nissan electric technology.
Nissan and Mitsubishi have broader plans. They plan to jointly expand a pickup truck for the U. S. market, which will be produced in Mexico. All and PHEV versions are being considered.
The style will most likely make its way to the U. S. It is used in the U. S. as an electric edition of Nissan’s best-selling pickup truck, the Frontier. It could also expand Mitsubishi’s lineup with buyers and dealers of midsize electric pickup trucks that are in demand.
Nissan and Mitsubishi have been strongly connected since 2016. Following an emissions fraud scandal, former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi.
The two have collaborated on minicars in Japan, but North America is a priority as they look to revamp their sales.
Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s director of plans, said the electric pickup is expected to go on sale between March 31, 2027, and March 31, 2031.
Is this the electric Frontier you’ve been waiting for? Nissan sold more than 76,000 Frontiers in the U. S. The U. S. population was up 26% last year from 2021.
The automaker this week unveiled its new “Arc” business plan, which aims to lower prices and compete with Chinese electric vehicle makers and Tesla.
Makota said in January that Nissan “cannot translate the old tactics of doing business from the afterlife into the future. “The second component of its two-component plan is to enable the transition to electric cars with differentiated components and products.
Between 2024 and 2030, Nissan will launch 34 electrified cars, covering all segments, including microphones. Nissan expects electrified cars to account for 40% of sales through 2026 and 60% through 2030.
I’m pleased that Nissan is publicly setting its targets for electric vehicles. They’ll have some catching up to do, but they’re further behind than ever. Having Mitsubishi on the road will help, I suppose.
In the U. S. , Nissan is investing $200 million and plans to revamp 78% of its range. The automaker said that includes the launch of e-POWER and plug-in hybrids.
Meanwhile, the pickup truck market is already gaining competition, with the Tesla Cybertruck and Chevy Silverado EV joining Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.
By 2027 (or even 3031), a Nissan/Mitsubishi electric pickup truck will already be (largely) part of the market. Meanwhile, Ford has announced that it will reduce its workforce by a third at the plant where the F-150 Lightning is made. The adjustments will take effect on April 1, 2024.
Would you buy a Nissan (or Mitsubishi) electric pickup truck than the Tesla, Chevy, Ford or Rivian models already available?Let us know what you’d need in the comments.
Peter Johnson covers the automotive industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is a seasoned investor, money writer, and electric vehicle enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is one of the main reasons he pursued a career in investing. If he doesn’t tell you about his latest discoveries in the 10K, you can spot him enjoying the outdoors or exercising.