Fiat, Mitsubishi to Co-Develop Pickup Truck

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fiat SpA have agreed to co-develop a pickup truck for Fiat based on MMC's next-generation L200 truck.

The companies didn't say where the vehicle will be produced. MMC makes the current L200 in Thailand.

Earlier this year Automotive News Europe said VW plans to offer the pickup in Europe and Latin America in 2016 as part of its Fiat Professional light-truck lineup. The rear-drive model would complement Fiat's smaller front-drive Strada truck, which Fiat builds in Brazil for both markets.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has long promised the company would add a pickup with a load capacity of one ton. Fiat previously announced and cancelled plans to build a truck based on Tata and Dodge platforms.

The company's current five-year product plan includes a new pickup for Europe and Latin America due two years from now.