The Renault-Nissan alliance and Mercedes-Benz have revealed that they will jointly develop a new pick-up truck.
Mercedes-Benz disclosed its intention to enter the pick-up market at the end of March, but more details have been confirmed as part of the announcement that the manufacturers will be working on the project together as part of a five-year deal.
It will mean the premium pick-up Mercedes will launch will be based on the new Nissan Navara, which is due on sale in the UK at the end of this year. The Renault version will share the new Navara platform too and is confirmed to go on sale in Europe, which means it will likely reach the UK too.
The Mercedes model will go on sale in the UK before 2020.
The new double cab pick-up will be targeted both at personal-use and commercial customers. European production for the three models will be based at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “Mercedes-Benz is the fastest growing premium brand in the world.
“Entering the rapidly growing segment of midsize pick-ups is an important step in continuing our global growth path. Thanks to our well-established partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, we are able to drastically reduce the time and cost to enter this key segment.”
The one-tonne pick-up will mark Renault’s second entry into the segment after it announced plans to launch a half-ton pick-up for developing markets later this year.
Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan chairman and CEO, said: “Thanks to our cooperation with Daimler on this project, we will be able to share the cost of investment, while at the same time open up new markets in the Latin American region for the Renault-Nissan Alliance.”
