The deal that saved the Xterra

[drbandkgb]

LINK here

Update #1 August-26-2009 01:55 PDT:
In a phone conversation this afternoon with PickupTrucks.com, Nissan spokesperson Fred Standish says "We're looking at all options for the Titan and are committed to staying in the [light-duty] market."
Standish says Nissan expects to continue manufacturing the Titan at its assembly plant in Canton, Miss. for the foreseeable future. Production had been expected to end there by the end of 2010 to make way for Nissan's upcoming line of light commercial vehicles.
----
Nissan and Chrysler have released a statement announcing the end of three cooperative programs, including a deal that would have seen Chrysler manufacturing the next-generation Nissan Titan half-ton pickup off the current Dodge Ram 1500 platform.
The statement reads:
"Nissan and Chrysler today announced a mutual agreement to end three OEM vehicle-supply projects announced last year.
For the past several months, teams from both companies have been studying the viability of the projects in light of significant changes in business conditions since the projects were announced in January and April of 2008.
Today, it was decided it was in the best interests of both companies to end the projects.
The projects had involved:
1. Nissan providing to Chrysler a compact sedan for the South American market beginning this year.
2. Nissan providing to Chrysler a small vehicle for global markets beginning in 2010.
3. Chrysler providing to Nissan a full-size pickup truck starting in 2011.
A separate agreement involving the supply of transmissions from Nissan affiliate JATCO to Chrysler remains unchanged. That agreement has been in effect since 2004."
At the New York Auto Show in April, Nissan told PickupTrucks.com that with or without Chrysler the company is committed to the Nissan Titan.

 

[Xterraforce]

I don't get it. How does this save the Xterra?

 

[drbandkgb]

If Nissan let Dodge build the Titan.. The Xterra was doomed.. Built on the same platform.. I think this is why the Gen 2 has been pushed into 2012..
2005-2012 is a long cycle on a build. Nissan had to scramble in 2009 with their own design now.. Makes since to get as much out of one platform as you can

 

[Xterraforce]

Ah, now I see. I sure hope they keep making Xterras. I know they say the market is shifting away from body on frame SUVs but I sure see a lot of new Jeep JKs on the road. True, if its not off road capable then who cares how strong it is. That's why I want to see the X stay basic. Nissan shouldn't work on improving it's luxury. They have the Pathfinder for that. Just keep the Xterra reliable and capable on any terrain and it will sell.

Someone from Toyota recently was asked if the FJ Cruiser was going to be discontinued. His answer was "we don't care how many we sell. As long as people want to buy them, we'll keep making them." I hope Nissan shares that attitude.

 

[ryandavenport]

^^ Mercedes shares that same opinion about the g wagen

 

[NismoFire]

I'm hoping that, with the Pathfinder going unibody in 2013, the X will keep its frame and stay the "off road" SUV. THE smyrna plant is growing to take on the Rogue, Leaf, Infiniti's version of the leaf, and the unibody Pathfinder. So far, X is still in that plan.

 

[J Everett]

Last I heard, Xterra production was no longer going to be at the Smyrna plant, and instead would be built at the Canton, Mississippi plant starting with the 2012 models.

 

[drbandkgb]

I see the 2012 model ever day at the Smyrna plant.. I have talked to a few there that think its dead.. but I cant figure out why Nissan would be making deals with MS if it was... I have learned many at the plant are not in the know..or care

 

[NismoFire]

I see the 2012 model ever day at the Smyrna plant.. I have talked to a few there that think its dead.. but I cant figure out why Nissan would be making deals with MS if it was... I have learned many at the plant are not in the know..or care

Daddy will most likely have to go back to Canton to launch the new bodies down there. They tried to get him to move to Canton when it was first opened, but he said there wasn't enough money in the world for him to live in that ghetto! Hahaha.

 

[J Everett]

Didn't the tour guides at the plant for the NXM this past summer say that next year the Xterra would be built in Canton? This article also says the same thing:

http://www.mississippi.org/press-room/nissan-americas-announces-plans-to-begin-production-of-xterra-suv-and-frontier-pickup.html


Not accusing anyone of being wrong, I just thought I was certain I'd heard the production was moving to Mississippi. I may have misunderstood.

 

[NismoFire]

Eventually, yes. But this is the end of 2011, and they're already selling 2012 production models. Canton isn't ready for the X line yet, but they will be soon.

 

[J Everett]

Ah, gotcha.

 

[drbandkgb]

We are in 2012 production now..

My thought is they will finish up the Xterra gen 2 here in Smyrna and the gen 3 will be built in MS.. From what I can tell they build prototypes for 90 days then crush them.. So my guess is we will see a gen 3 at the Detroit auto show and this spring or summer see the next Xterra production.


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't crash like the android did...

 

[NismoFire]

We are in 2012 production now..

My thought is they will finish up the Xterra gen 2 here in Smyrna and the gen 3 will be built in MS.. From what I can tell they build prototypes for 90 days then crush them.. So my guess is we will see a gen 3 at the Detroit auto show and this spring or summer see the next Xterra production.


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't crash like the android did...

This. They had the Altima coupe built when I worked there in 06, and they didn't come out until like 08...they were sitting in crates at the beginning of the assembly line in Robotics.

 

[TJTJ]

There's the possibility that the production schedule was shifted time-wise due to parts shortages from Japan related to the Tsunami, etc...which could delay plans for 2013 production while they try to deal with 2012, etc.

 

[drbandkgb]

All I know is many here in the plant don't know anything...


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't crash like the android did...

 

[AbuseTheElderly]

My step-dad helped build the Canton, MS plant. Almost a mile long and I heard stories about one company going bankrupt because they dropped and broke ONE robot while moving it with a crane. The plant is less than 30 miles from my current house. When I moved back to MS in early 2010 I applied to work there as a MIG welder cause I used to weld Toyota Tacoma frames in Stockton, CA, but they never contacted me. Oh well.