Daimler Confirms Review of Nissan Venture in Mexico

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche tells reporters that “question marks” have arisen about plans for the company and Nissan Motor Co. to share a small-car platform to carry Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti luxury vehicles.

Sources told Reuters a month ago that Nissan had decided to drop plans to use the “MFA2” chassis it was developing with Daimler because the program was too expensive.

The two companies have co-developed and produced cars, trucks and engines since 2010. They currently are completing a $1 billion assembly plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to make as many as 230,000 luxury vehicles per year.

Earlier reports said the Mexican facility, which is scheduled to open later this year, will make Mercedes GLA and Infiniti QS30 compact crossover vehicles. Zetsche says the companies are now deciding whether or not to share the MFA2 platform and other components. It isn't clear how a decision to use different chassis would affect the Aguascalientes factory.