Thinking Outside of the Box
Today's automotive market is as competitive as it has ever been. Therefore automakers are joining forces with would be competitors and sharing components to optimize economies of scale.
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| Mitsubishi is looking to get back into the lucrative truck business, hoping for a much needed shot in the arm after a tough year financially. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America) |
And it's not just a niche phenomenon. Major players such as GM are doing the unthinkable and building Saabs out of Chevy trucks and Subarus while Ford Motor's Mazda and Volvo share their new compact platforms with the upcoming Focus. But that's all in the family, VW with Porsche and Audi with Maserati, none of which are even related, are sharing everything from specific components, to entire car chassis architectures and drivetrains.
DaimlerChrysler hasn't needed to look outside of its divisions to source parts or platforms, unless you count its cooperative engine manufacturing deal with minority owned Hyundai and Kia, but it's following a similar pattern with its Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler Group (Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep), smart, and Mitsubishi nameplates.
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| Mitsubishi's new midsize truck will share most of its components with the next-generation Dodge Dakota. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America) |
The only Japanese company in the DaimlerChrysler equation is looking to get back into the lucrative truck business, hoping for a much needed shot in the arm after a debilitating year, financially speaking. Who better for Mitsubishi to look for assistance but Dodge?
Of course this isn't the first time the two brands have tangoed with trucks, but unlike the Japanese made Dodge D50 compact that came out in 1979 Mitsubishi's new midsize truck will share most of its components with the next-generation Dakota planned for the 2005 model year.