Troubled Japanese automaker Nissan says it is selling its headquarters building in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, for $630 million as part of its revival efforts.
Exactly how I’ve felt for a while now. Nissan hasn’t been doing the R&D investments they should’ve been doing, for decades now. The first and second gen Leafs were their last real contributions to the automotive industry. The first one because it made EVs more mainstream, and the second because it made actually EVs more affordable.
Nissan already gets transmissions for the Z and hopefully some other vehicles from Mercedes. Nissan’s partner Renault uses Mercedes small diesel engines.
What they should do now is badge-engineer a low-end Mercedes like the GLA, GLB, or their electric equivalents, and sell it for less than Mercedes does. If Mercedes is willing. Do what Toyota did with the new Supras and BMW, except do it with the Skyline and Mercedes, the M256 inline 6 is a pretty decent engine for power.
Of course they could look to some other manufacturer for help too, doesn’t have to be Mercedes, but Mercedes knows how to make cars and they have a working relationship already. But they need a GOOD car that they don’t need to invest tons of R&D into, to boost their reputation and income for a while.
Exactly how I’ve felt for a while now. Nissan hasn’t been doing the R&D investments they should’ve been doing, for decades now. The first and second gen Leafs were their last real contributions to the automotive industry. The first one because it made EVs more mainstream, and the second because it made actually EVs more affordable.
Nissan already gets transmissions for the Z and hopefully some other vehicles from Mercedes. Nissan’s partner Renault uses Mercedes small diesel engines.
What they should do now is badge-engineer a low-end Mercedes like the GLA, GLB, or their electric equivalents, and sell it for less than Mercedes does. If Mercedes is willing. Do what Toyota did with the new Supras and BMW, except do it with the Skyline and Mercedes, the M256 inline 6 is a pretty decent engine for power.
Of course they could look to some other manufacturer for help too, doesn’t have to be Mercedes, but Mercedes knows how to make cars and they have a working relationship already. But they need a GOOD car that they don’t need to invest tons of R&D into, to boost their reputation and income for a while.