Nissan Phasing Out Minicar Deal with Suzuki

Nissan Motor Co., which has been buying rebadged minivehicles from Suzuki Motor Corp. for 11 years, expects to end that relationship within about one year, according to The Nikkei, which cites no sources.

The newspaper says Suzuki will continue to supply Nissan with commercial minivehicles that Nissan sells under the Clipper brand.

Suzuki had been supplying Nissan with its Palette microvan, relabeled as the Roox, and MR Wagon MPV, renamed the Moco.

Nissan phased out the Roox last spring after selling about 50,000 units. The company plans to begin making its own version of the Moco as early as the fiscal quarter beginning next April 1.

Nissan and alliance partner Renault announced last week they were expanding their relationship with Mitsubishi Motors to jointly develop an electric "kei" minicar. The EV will share a platform developed by Nissan and MMC for the Nissan Dayz and eK wagon mini-MPVs introduced earlier this year.