We mentioned the Suzuki-Nissan deal many moons ago, but it looks as though we've finally got some details on the first American impact. Suzuki has announced that Nissan will start building the company a midsize, Frontier-based pickup in their Smyrna, Tennessee plant. No name or real details yet, but we're guessing they're going to call it the Milanera. Any guesses on the name? Artists rendering above, press release below:
SUZUKI AUTO ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR PICKUP TRUCK BUILT BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA Brea, Calif., (December 11, 2007) - American Suzuki Motor Corporation today announced that its midsize pickup truck will be produced by Nissan North America, Inc. The truck will be based on Nissan's Frontier midsize pickup and built at the company's manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn. Production of the pickup truck will begin in the fall of 2008. The vehicle will be marketed solely by Suzuki in North America. In 2006, Suzuki and Nissan announced an agreement to expand the scope of their business collaboration. The pickup is part of that agreement, which also included the supply by Suzuki to Nissan of Alto minicars in Japan. [Suzuki via [WCF]