The latest chapter in the collaboration between the Nissan-Renault Alliance and Germany’s Daimler has been announced with a joint engine production agreement for North America.
Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder petrol engines will be manufactured at Nissan’s Decherd, Tennessee plant from 2014.
With expectations of full-year volumes up to 250,000 engines per year, the new engine will be fitted to Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
These will be the first American-made engines for ‘Benz and they will be shipped to the German giant’s plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to power Mercedes-Benz C-Class models.
The Daimler-Nissan/Renault strategic collaboration began in April 2010 and the two automotive powerhouses now own 3.1 per cent of each other.
As well as the joint powertrain deal for Tennessee, in 2014 the two companies will launch a new smart and Renault Twingo model on common chassis architecture which will be produced Hambach, France (Mercedes-Benz) and Novo Mesto Slovenia (Renault).
Later this year we can expect Mercedes-Benz to launch a new entry-level city commercial van – also produced in collaboration with Nissan-Renault.
From 2014 Infiniti will launch a new premium compact vehicle using Mercedes-Benz chassis architecture.
And from 2014, Daimler will supply electric vehicle batteries from its plant in Kamenz, Germany and Renault-Nissan will supply electric motors which will jointly power smart and Twingo ZE electric vehicles.
