2014 Nissan Juke Sl on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan expand partnership, US will get new sedan

Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan have just inked an alliance that might, hopefully, reverse the ailing fortunes of the Mitsubishi brand in the US market. The big chunk of news is that Mitsubishi will produce two Renualt-based models for sale in the US market, and that they'll be built at the Renault-Samsung factory in Busan, South Korea.
The plans call for a D-segment sedan to be followed by a C-segment offering. Based on the cars built at the Busan factory, that means Mitsubishi will be getting the SM5 and the SM3, a pair of handsome sedans that are based on Renault-Nissan's D and C platforms, respectively. These same platforms underpin a number of US market Nissans (not to mention a number of cars from Renault), namely the Pathfinder, Maxima, Quest and Murano for the D platform and the last-generation Rogue and Sentra for the C platform.
Besides the sedan production, Nissan and Mitsubishi will be expanding their joint-venture company, NMKV, which produces Kei cars for the Japanese market. A new, all-electric offering will be born from the partnership, likely based on a Kei car platform. The partnership between the three brands will also lead to increased sharing of technology, particularly relating to electric cars.

Nissan names Makoto Uchida as next CEO

TOKYO — Nissan named Makoto Uchida, the head of its Chinese business, as its next CEO, picking an executive known for close ties to top shareholder Renault and for a frank, straight-talking manner that has marked him as an outsider. By selecting Senior Vice President Uchida, Nissan's board has gone with someone slightly at odds with its traditional corporate culture. He joined the carmaker mid-career in 2003, a rarity in a country where top executives usually spend their entire working lives at the same company. Known for his unflagging work ethic and relentless focus on cost control, Uchida was described by one long-time associate who spoke on condition of anonymity as a "foreigner with a Japanese face" — direct and to the point in conversations. He will be joined by newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ashwani Gupta, currently COO of junior partner Mitsubishi Motors, in trying to find new ways to revive a business that has been struggling for months with plunging profits, management scandal and tensions with Renault. Japan's second-largest automaker has been shaken in particular by the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn last year on allegations of financial misconduct, which he denies, and the more recent departure of CEO Hiroto Saikawa after he admitted to being improperly overpaid. Whether the 58-year-old former theology student can deliver a miracle turnaround — particularly at Nissan's business in the United States — and repair ties with Renault will now be a focus for investors. "The biggest business challenge for Nissan is speeding up," the head of Nissan's nominations committee, Masakazu Toyoda, told a news conference. "Speedy decision making is a challenge that Uchida raised, and to this end he said that he wants to empower people as much as possible, so we decided to ask Uchida to take on the CEO role." One source close to Renault described the selection as "a victory for the alliance", saying that both Uchida and Gupta knew the business and were ready to help Nissan recover. 'ISN'T REALLY JAPANESE' Before his ouster, Ghosn had been working on a plan for a full merger of Renault and Nissan, but had met resistance in Japan, which is concerned about French influence in the alliance. The French government is a major Renault shareholder. Relations were further strained this year when Renault held abortive merger talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Recharge Wrap-up: Aoxin Ibis could be Tesla competitor in China, Nissan Qashqai ZEOD due this year

Zero Motorcycles is expanding its North American dealer network. With more retailers selling the electric motorcycles, Zero has added three new regional sales directors. "We are enjoying a great response to our 2015 line of motorcycles and accessories, and it's driving accelerated growth," says Zero's Mike Cunningham. "To support and sustain this momentum, we are investing in a bigger, stronger team and partnering with leading motorcycle retailers." More sellers are getting on board as electric motorcycles appear more and more viable, and they're finding it's bringing in a new set of enthusiastic customers. Zero recently revamped its production process to meet the expected increase in demand for 2015. Read more in the press release, below. Chinese automaker Aoxin New Energy, has built an electric car that is set to compete with the Tesla Model S. The aluminum and carbon fiber Aaoxin Ibis (pictured) is longer than the Model S, but weighs less than the Tesla at 4,034 pounds. It offers 181 horsepower and has a top speed of only 94 miles per hour, but it boasts a driving range of about 285 miles per charge. Its upscale interior borrows its looks from the Tesla, with its digital gauges and large, central touchscreen. Read more at Car News China, or at Green Car Reports. Nissan will likely debut a Qashqai ZEOD concept later this year. The plug-in hybrid version of the compact crossover borrows its ZEOD moniker - which stands for Zero Emissions On Demand - from Nissan's hybrid Le Mans racer. It's possible it will borrow its powertrain technology from the Renault Eolab Concept, which could mean a 1.0-liter engine paired with an electric motor. Based on the success of the Qashqai in Europe, it's not unlikely that the plug-in version will debut there (Green Car Reports is betting on Frankfurt). Read more at Green Car Reports. Zero Motorcycles Expands North American Network Strong Demand Fuels Double-Digit Dealer Growth and Additions to Sales Team SANTA CRUZ, Calif., March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, announced today that three new regional sales directors have been added to the company's roster in the first quarter of 2015. The expansion of the sales team comes in response to rapid growth within the dealer network and reflects Zero's commitment to delivering world-class products and service.