We've heard through the grapevine that another element of the collaboration between Chrysler LLC and Nissan, in addition to the latter giving the former a small car and the former giving the latter a pickup, is that Chrysler will be ditching its Daimler-sourced Sprinter commercial van in favor of a rebranded Nissan van by 2011. As we already know, Nissan is planning on producing three new light commercial vehicles for the U.S. at its plant in Canton, Mississippi, and it will be sourcing some engines for its new LCVs from Cummins. Thus, we would also expect to see the familiar sight of a Cummins diesel under the hood of Dodge's version, as well. Will we discover even more sharing between Chrysler and Nissan as time goes on? Our sources say these companies aren't finished raiding each other's parts bins by a long shot.
[Source: Wouldn't you like to know]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Richard @ May 15th 2008 9:42AM
Considering the target for these vehicles, I can't imagine the idea that - even if the new one is great - your vendor may well be replacing the thing wholesale in a few years will endear themselves very much. Upfitters have only recently started working with the Sprinter, after all, and have spent a bunch of money tooling up for it. I can't see them tossing all that away and moving to the "next big thing" eagerly.
This is why the Econoline van, long in the tooth as it may be, is still around pretty much unchanged physically.
Pat @ May 15th 2008 9:49AM
The Sprinter continues to be sold by Freightliner...
Richard @ May 15th 2008 10:44AM
Ah, I missed that. That makes more sense.
CastleCharles @ May 15th 2008 2:34PM
The Sprinter / Freightliner is the best Van out there for Commercial uses and I will continue to buy the freightliner for my bus and Limo needs ... with the Mercedes badging, of course.
Ahmed @ May 15th 2008 10:03AM
"Our sources say these companies aren't finished raiding each other's parts bins by a long shot.
"........... there goes Nissans quality.
I wouldn't mind if Chrysler was only using Nissan parts, but Nissan using Chrysler parts is not a good idea. Chrysler builds the worst quality cars period! I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and had to basically rebuild it by the time it hit 70,000 miles. Junk, Junk, Junk!
Pat @ May 15th 2008 10:17AM
My mom has a 2004 Sentra SE-R and the thing is always, and I mean always, in the shop. It got a new engine after 100 000km and things still go wrong.
Before she had a 2003 Sentra (2.0) and it was the same thing --she didn't learn from her mistake.
My dad has a 2004 Altima 2.5 and while it's also had its share of issues ...
wally @ May 15th 2008 10:54AM
Funny you say that I to have a 2002 Grand Cherokee with 212,000 Miles & only regular service!!!!!!!
Ahmed @ May 15th 2008 11:10AM
Your one in a million. My limited has huge A/C problems (over $1000 to repair), hubs went twice, 4 wheel drive rebuilt, brakes warped ever other day, and I could go on and on. Check the forums. This car is hated for its reliablility. Cosumer reports just rated it one of the worst quality cars built, period. Chrysler build some nice cars but a few years later you WILL want to burn it or drive it into a lake.
Frank @ May 15th 2008 12:35PM
Hate to burst your bubble Ahmed, but according to JD Powers, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep have had less problems than Nissans in their 3 year ownership survey. This is a common misconception (myth).
It was also thought that Mercedes had better quality than Chrysler at the time of the "merger of equals", and that Mercedes could teach Chrysler how to make better cars. The truth was that Mercedes was the less reliable make. I think it has to do with that thing called perception vs. reality.
Guenther @ May 15th 2008 10:10AM
Foolishness. The market is just beginning to accept the Sprinter as 'good enough to be worth the extra money'. Now switching it out for something else, even if it's similar in concept, will be a tough sell. End result will be mechanics that need new training and a lot more people buying their vans from Freightliner instead of the Dodge dealer.
Throwback @ May 15th 2008 10:33AM
Is it possible the Nissan sourced van is a replacement for the Ram Van? This way they will keep the Sprinter and have a new smaller commercial van?
Mattias @ May 15th 2008 11:19AM
Maybe. It would probably even make sense to adapt some Euro style Renault sourced FWD van. The SOFIM engines these FWD vans use are also available as gasoline/CNG versions.
VP @ May 15th 2008 10:56AM
I hate the grammar nazis the troll around AB because after all it is a blog. But is it really that hard to take 5 seconds to read the headline you just wrote?
Rocketboy @ May 15th 2008 11:14AM
"Rumormill: Dodge to replace Sprinter will full-size van from Nissan"
No kidding. Missing a word often?
jamie @ May 15th 2008 11:18AM
Why doesn't Chrysler just throw in the towel and import Nissans? That's the road they headed down on.
Oh right, Nissan USA would have a conniption fit over someone else stealing their wares and selling their rebadged products.
But the more I look at it; the more it looks like Nardelli is selling out to Gnosn. No doubt Cerberus is no longer willing to foot the bill for Chrysler's continued existence. Big surprise? Not really.
Brent @ May 15th 2008 11:42AM
As it stands...
Nissan is building a small car for Chrysler.
Chrysler is building a truck for Nissan.
I don't think they are going down that road.
jamie @ May 16th 2008 11:15AM
That's what they want you to believe...
Gnosn:
Hey Nardelli want a small car, huh?
We can sure use a Ram-bo vehicle in our line-up.
Gnosn:
Hey Nardelli you want a new full size van?
We got one you might be interested in.
Maybe we can combine efforts and make them in one of your idle plants, what you say?
Gnosn:
Hey Nardelli about that midsize Dodge re-do you're working on...
How about using one of ours instead?
We can make both the Nissan version and the Dodge version at one of your underutilized plants. Sound good?
Gnosn:
Hey Nardelli Chrysler is really beginning to lag a bit.
How about rebadging our Infinitis? That would help bring you up to speed.
Oh, and we can build them in your plants in the US, okay?
Gnosn:
Hey Nardelli! You want an electric vehicle? Boy, have we got a deal for you...!
Note to Cerberus:
Everthing is going according to plan. The frog is almost cooked. Looks like we will be able to mop up in a couple of months.
Iridium @ May 15th 2008 12:15PM
The Sprinter is one of the good things that came from Mercrycedes.
It is a great vehicle with a great diesel engine. My dad has a Sprinter based motorhome and even with all the extra weight still gets 26mpg on the highway. It even handles well for being a top heavy big van.
Replacing the Sprinter with a Nissan van would be a very bad idea. Japanese delivery ans are made for driving through extremely tight city streets very slowly. I wouldn't want to get on the highway with one.
66coronet @ May 15th 2008 12:40PM
The biggest thing the sprinter has going for it is fuel mileage. They offer a 3.0Lcrd. No other manufacture offers a small diesel for their full size vans.
If GM was smart they would use the VM 2.9Lcrd in their full size van for all markets.
Dodge Nissan will probably use the cummins 4.3L V-6. But will it have similar fuel mileage as the Sprinter. Probably not.
Dodge should continue to offer the MB3.0Lcrd or deal with GM/VM to use their 2.9Lcrd for people who want better fuel mileage in their vans.
Stéphane Dumas @ May 15th 2008 8:27PM
Good idea 66coronet about the use of the 2.9L V6 diesel from VM, as for the Cummins V6, it's a 4.2L and not a 4.3L I think.
However, Renault-Nissan plan their own V6 3.0L diesel and the Maxima is planned to get it for 2010 http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/11/2010-nissan-maxima-diesel-engine-to-based-on-new-renault-v-6/ maybe it could be under the hood of the upcoming Nissan/Dodge van as well.