Interesting swap:

Nissan, Chrysler strike deal for truck, car

Bradford Wernle
Automotive News | April 14, 2008 - 5:46 pm EST

DETROIT -- Under a new, expanded product agreement, Chrysler LLC will
supply a new full-size pickup to Nissan, while Nissan will supply
Chrysler with a new small car.

The small car, based on the Nissan Versa subcompact, will be made to a
Chrysler design and sold in North America, Europe and other global
markets starting in 2010. The vehicle will be made at Nissan's Oppama
Plant in Japan.

Chrysler will make a full-size pickup for Nissan at its Saltillo,
Mexico, factory. To make room for the Nissan product, Chrysler will
shift Dodge Ram production to its St. Louis North and Warren, Mich.,
truck plants. The Nissan pickup will go on sale in North America in 2011.

In January, the two companies jointly announced Nissan would supply
Chrysler with a Versa-based sedan for sale in South America starting
next year.

"Forging the right tactical partnerships is critical to the long-term
success of Chrysler," said Tom LaSorda, Chrysler LLC co-president in a
prepared statement.

The companies said they "have also agreed to maintain an open dialogue
to explore further product-sharing opportunities," according to a
Chrysler press release.
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LaSorda will have a conference call at 6:30 pm Eastern to discuss this
with the press.

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Chrysler and Nissan Confirm new OEM Product Agreements

Auburn Hills, Mich./Tokyo, Apr 14, 2008 - Chrysler LLC and Nissan
Motor Co., Ltd., today announced two new agreements for the supply of
products between both companies. In January, Nissan agreed to supply
Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited
distribution in South America on an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM)
basis in 2009.

This new OEM exchange benefits both companies through range extension
and the utilization of global manufacturing capacity. Highlights of the
new agreement:

Nissan will manufacture an all-new, fuel-efficient small car based on a
unique Chrysler concept and design. This new segment entry for Chrysler
will be sold in North America, Europe and other global markets in 2010,
and manufactured at Nissan?s Oppama Plant in Japan.

Chrysler will manufacture a full-size pickup for Nissan. Based on a
Nissan unique design, this truck will be manufactured at Chrysler?s
Saltillo (Mexico) Assembly Plant. In order to accommodate this product,
Chrysler will shift volume from Mexico to its U.S.-based assembly plants
that produce pickup trucks. Sales of the pickup in North America will
start in 2011.

This latest OEM supply agreement extends a long standing product
exchange relationship between the two corporations, with Nissan
affiliate JATCO already supplying Chrysler with transmissions since 2004.

?Forging the right tactical partnerships is critical to the long-term
success of Chrysler,? said Tom LaSorda, Chrysler LLC President and Vice
Chairman. ?It also builds on the Company?s inherent strengths, including
the ability to respond rapidly and creatively to emerging opportunities.?

?In January, we said we would continue to look for additional OEM
opportunities with Chrysler,? said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice
President, Nissan Motor Company. ?This latest agreement builds on
Nissan?s proven track record to deliver win-win product exchanges with
multiple manufacturers around the world,? continued Tavares.

Since the signing of the first OEM agreement in January, the two
companies have also agreed to maintain an open dialogue to explore
further product-sharing opportunities.

__________________
Rob and the family
2007 Sunset Creek 269BH
1996 Ram 1500 5.9L