Nissan North America on Monday announced it will build and sell three new vehicles in North America in the Light Commercial vehicle (LCV) segment. The first new LCV will be designed specifically for North America, and will launch in the first half of 2010. Nissan partnered up with Cummins to supply two clean diesel engines and ZF to build automatic transmissions for its LCVs, which will remain under eight tons in Gross Vehicle Weight.
The Japanese maker’s Canton, Mississippi plant will act as the manufacturing hub for the commercial vehicles in North America. In addition to tooling and equipment necessary for the manufacture of the three new vehicles, Nissan will invest $118 million into the plant. To make room, production of the next-generation Nissan Quest minivan and Infiniti QX56 SUV will shift elsewhere from Canton.
“We already have major operations in Japan, China and Europe, and so it is natural that we are now ready to expand our business in North America,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan’s head of global LCV business in a statement, adding LCV sales are a substantial part of Nissan’s profits.
Heading the operation in North America as vice president will be Joe Castelli, who comes over from Ford. LCV dealers will be selected from Nissan’s current stores.
04/07, 4:40 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Am I the only one who’s noticed that it seems the light commercial vehicle business and small diesel truck business has really picked up in the past two or so years?
This is good news though, more jobs and revenue to blue collar workers.
04/07, 5:04 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Looks like some job creation.
04/07, 5:08 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Cummins diesels: good choice. I wonder if Chrysler had some input in this as part of their new agreement with Nissan.
04/07, 5:10 PM
posted by:
shaver
Long as they keep making cup-o-noodles. I dont care.
04/07, 5:16 PM
posted by:
Htay9500
isn’t UD owned by Nissan?
04/07, 5:27 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
ISUZU’s last bid on the US market just took a major hit.
04/07, 9:19 PM
posted by:
autonut
Mitsubishi has a lot of trucks like that running around NYC. Of course it is no plush F150 with laptop for image supplying hand job, but they are practical. They can carry a lot of weight with low fuel consumption. Given the cost of fuel or riches of our friendly sheiks, this probably will work. For people who need to move the stuff, not laptop.
What I like about Nissan effort is that engine and tranny will be manufactured satetside as well as truck. I am sure they will not schlep the frame from Japan, ergo it is US workers who get the job to build the truck. What else left there?
04/07, 9:41 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
If Nissan’s entry into the marketplace means that fewer Volvo trucks will be sold, that’s a good thing.
04/07, 9:57 PM
posted by:
olds307
howsmydriving: Volvo isn’t a competitor in the light cab-over class. They make heavy duty tractors for 18 wheel rigs.
The fact is that the Japanese cab-over light truck market is already saturated with nearly identicle products from Isuzu (also badged GMC and Chevrolet), International (also badged Ford), Mitsubishi Fuso, UD Nissan Diesel (apparently a different company?) Bering (Hyundai). Hino (Toyota) was once in this market in the US but they replaced their line with conventionals, which share the same exact cab as their overseas cabovers, but with a nose added and the engine moved foward.