Daimler, Renault Discuss Expanding Van Venture

Daimler AG and Renault SA say they in early stages of talks about building large vans together.

The two companies currently collaborate on the development of small delivery vans, which are produced at a Renault factory in Maubeuge, France, and sold as the Mercedes-Benz Citan and Renault Kangoo.

Paris-based business newspaper La Tribune reports that Mercedes might build the big vans at a Renault facility in France. The French carmaker says it has not discussed possible production sites with Daimler. Renault pledged in March to boost domestic output by 2016, including the addition of 80,000 units for alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. and Daimler.

Renault disclosed last week that in 2016 its plant in Flins, France, will begin making 82,000 next-generation Nissan Micra subcompact cars annually. Renault reportedly also plans to boost Citan output to 40,000 units this year from 14,000 units in 2012.

Daimler has a large-van venture with Volkswagen AG that expires at the end of 2016. VW has already said it will develop its next-generation Crafter van solo. Mercedes builds its existing Sprinter big van at two plants in Germany and facilities in Argentina, China and the U.S.