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2009 Nissan Titan Front Rolling View

While Chrysler Stalls on Partnership, Nissan Looks Elsewhere for 2012 Titan

August 24, 2009
August, 2009
By Scott Evans

One of the many things lost in the massive shuffle that was Chrysler's bankruptcy and reorganization was their planned partnership with Nissan to build the next Titan pickup based on the Dodge Ram. Unfortunately for Nissan, those plans are still in limbo.

"My team is spending a lot of time looking at different scenarios of what we can do," Larry Dominique, Nissan North America's vice president of product planning, told Automotive News. Dominique spearheaded the original Titan project for Nissan.

The biggest problem Nissan faces is indecision. Chrysler's new Fiat leadership team hasn't yet decided whether or not to honor the original plan to build Titans for Nissan at Chrysler's truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico. Prior to Chrysler's bankruptcy, Nissan engineers had designed a new cab, interior and body work based on the Dodge Ram's architecture and were planning for the Ram-based Titan to debut in 2011 as a 2012 model.

2009 Nissan Titan Front Rolling View

With the Chrysler plan up in the air, Nissan is looking for alternatives. At the moment, the company is talking with other automakers who build pickup trucks for the U.S. market to see if any other company would be willing to build the Titan for them. Even if Nissan does find a new partner, it could take years to re-do the 2012 Titan design to work with an all-new architecture. Failing that, Dominique said that the company could come up with a refresh for the Titan and continue building it in-house past its 2011 cancelation date.

What do you think Nissan should do? Stick it out with Chrysler, or try to get GM, Ford or Toyota to help them out? Or should Nissan forget the joint-venture and do it themselves, or just let the Titan die? Have your say in the comments below.


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Community Comments

drago13795  (08/25/09 07:31 PM)

I think both Nissan and Toyota should leave the full size truck market, I don't think they can sell enought vehicles ('specially Nissan) to justify the cost of developing vehicles that are dominated by the big three.

cowboytown  (08/25/09 07:56 PM)

I think Nissan should go it alone and build a new model.  I think that many more people will take a serious look at the Titan rather than support state-owned Chevrolet or Dodge.  I have always been a Chevy man, but I plan to choose between Ford and Nissan a couple years down the road when I am ready to trade.

zygondor  (08/26/09 09:26 AM)

I never thought neither Toyota or Nissan should have gone "big". They had a great market in the smaller trucks and I think wasted a lot of money in the past few years. I'd be curious if either made a profit on the bigger models.

nortenodecorazon  (08/26/09 11:08 AM)

the more choices the better for us.

musky72  (10/14/09 07:08 AM)

I'm a foreign guy all the way and I hope Nissan dumps the Chrysler merge and goes ahead with their own Titan.  The Titan is an awesome truck with a great powertrain!  It needs a beefier rear axle and a diesel option and that is about it.
Their DOHC motors are WAY better than Chryslers ancient pushrod hemi.  Not to mention my buddies hemi gets an abysmal 9mpg.  He only gets 7-8mpg towing his boat.  I'd also like an option for Nissan to throw their 4.0 litre V6 motor in there.

I love the Titan and I really want to buy one in the next couple of years but not if it has anything to do with Chrysler.  Oh, and one more thing Nissan.  ADVERTISE THE TITAN!!

DatNissanwd21bully  (10/15/09 05:53 PM)

Nissan should definitely reconsider and build it them selves, and stop half stepping with Chrysler. Nissan is and has been one of he top vehicles in all of the automotive categories they have nothing to lose and there research and development crew is on point and should take success or failure within them selves and not a weary hit or miss company like Chrysler. As a new truck to the full size truck industry titan carried its flag great even being judged by bias American truck owners it still got its respect. With minimal advertisement and all. More advertisement would be nice though.

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