The Japanese manufacturer assembled the Renault Clio model – which shared a platform with Nissan Platina – at its Aguascalientes plant in the 2000s, and then there were some units of the Renault Senic and the Renault Alaskan pickup – which shares a platform with Nissan Frontier – produced at the Cuernavaca, Morelos plant.
Since then, there have been no new models from the French manufacturer assigned to the Nissan plants in Mexico. But now that both brands have decided to renew their alliance and reactivate the commercial and industrial initiatives that began 24 years ago, Nissan will again manufacture a model for Renault.
There is still nothing defined about the new model that will begin production as of 2026. “I have meetings almost every day on the subject. We have to do an in-depth analysis, we have to ensure that we choose the correct model. We have to analyze each market segment to see where the spaces are where we can position it”, adds López.
Renault wants the vehicle produced by Nissan to make sense in both the local and export markets. So far the brand has only ruled out the production of an entry model (entry level)and rather will seek to focus on one of the segment B, C or D, that is, from subcompact to medium.
“We are evaluating all the options: combustion, hybrid, electric. All. We don’t really have any restrictions on what technology or what platform we have to use (in Mexico),” says López.
Once production starts, Renault anticipates a minimum of 40,000 or 50,000 units per year, so that “it is interesting”. Producing less than that, says López, is not really efficient.
“Until now we have been able to build a profitable business model, but we must ensure the future,” says López.