1/24/2008
Nissan to Develop Diesel Engines for Light-Duty Trucks Including Titan
Nissan Motor Co., said its light commercial vehicle (LCV) unit will create a new engineering division to develop diesel engines for light duty trucks. Industry experts say this could the pathway for Nissan’s Titan pickup to someday get a diesel engine to compete with diesel versions from Detroit and Toyota.
Nissan Motor Light Trucks Co., held 85 percent by Nissan and the rest by Volvo AB unit Nissan Diesel Motor Co., hopes to speed up product development of the new division as it aims to join General Motors and Ford at the top of the global LCV market.
Nissan’s LCV business unit expanded sales by 23 percent to 492,000 vehicles in the business year that ended in March and is one of the key divisions in Nissan’s quest for growth.Toyota is expected to lean on Hino, its truck making unit, for a diesel engine for the Tundra.
At the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Toyota showed a diesel Tundra with an 8.0L Hino diesel. Nissan is currently the only manufacturer of full-sized pickups that has not confirmed its diesel plans.