Mitsubishi To Supply Minicars To Nissan

TOKYO - March 13, 2003; Dow Jones reported that Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will supply commercial mini-vehicles to Nissan Motor Co. from October on an original-equipment-manufacturer basis, the two companies said Thursday. Mitsubishi plans to supply about 20,000 vehicles annually to Nissan under the agreement between the two automakers.

It will be the second mini-vehicle model Nissan is to buy from another manufacturer on an OEM basis. In April 2002, Nissan began selling its first mini-cars supplied by Suzuki Motor Corp.

Mini-cars and mini-trucks are those with an engine capacity of 660 cubic centimeters.

The move will mark Nissan's first entry into the commercial mini-car market, which accounts for about 30% of Japan's total mini-car market.

For Mitsubishi, the deal is expected to reduce its development and manufacturing costs, and enhance its production efficiency by increasing mini- car output, it said.

The vehicles to be supplied will be those Mitsubishi now sells as the " Minicab" range. Mitsubishi will supply both van and truck-type vehicles.