Nissan Slows Titan and Frontier Production
Nissan North America is cutting out production line shifts at the flexible Canton, Miss., production plant. Nissan will eliminate one shift from the NV commercial van line (down to one now) and one shift from the Titan/Titan XD and Frontier pickup truck lines (down to two shifts). The van shift elimination starts Friday and the pickup truck slowdown starts Feb. 22; the move could affect up to 700 contract employees.
Related: Did We Drive the Next Nissan Frontier?
According to Automotive News (subscription required), Nissan is anticipating a slowdown in 2019 full-size van and pickup truck sales and wants to be ready. The truckmaker has seen drops in sales year over year for NV commercial vans as well as the Titan and Titan XD pickups; however, even though being quite long in the tooth and ready for a full redesign, the Frontier was up 7.1 percent for 2018 and could continue to sell well as buyers snap up the old-school and economically priced current-generation mid-size pickup.
Titan and Titan XD sales were down almost 5 percent for 2018 and 27.4 percent down for the last three months of 2018, not gaining the traction Nissan hoped for when it redesigned the half ton and made the risky decision to produce a "heavy-duty" half ton in the form of the XD. We're not sure what this means for the longevity of the split full-size pickup, but we have great hopes for the all-new Nissan Frontier, which we expect to see in more detail this summer.
Cars.com photos by Christian Lantry; Tim Esterdahl
Comments
Unfortunately Nissan is no longer the great company (and product) it once was. The decision to merge with Rennault cannot be undone, but its effects are obvious. Can anyone name something the French do (besides cheese and wine) that is superb?
On a side note: It's amusing that PUTC refers to the Frontier as "old school" while the utterly antique Toyota Tacoma never seems to be regarded in these pages quite the same way.
Oxymoron: "Heavy Duty Half Ton".
French are great at architecture, clothing design, and perfume but they design some of the ugliest cars ever made and they have lousy cigarettes. It makes me wonder if GM hired some of those Renault and Peugeot designers to design the 2019 and 2020 Silverado. Except for the Fiat 500 the Italians design some beautiful classic cars with great handling but their reliability is not so good.
architecture???
@Jeff
Yeah, maybe 800 years ago. The only part of France that appeals to me at all is the countryside, which is some VERY expensive real estate.
I think I'd rather buy in western Tennessee or the Ozarks, where the countryside is beautiful and taxes are cheap.
Buying a home or farm in France would be like buying in New York or California. The taxes are designed to keep the nouveau riche out.
@papajim--I wouldn't buy a farm in France but their countryside is beautiful. I could take in the scenery with a fresh baguette, good bottle of wine, and good cheese. Tennessee is a beautiful state.
The French car designs are just plane ugly. They must have let the Renault designers design the Nissan Juke and Cube.
Juke or Cube? Do not buy one with an auto trans!
Actually I would not buy any Nissan with auto trans at this point. Even if I found the Nissan Frontier of my dreams it would have to be a manual trans. Their autos are not what you want.
Well the new Titan was another swing and a miss.
The Frontier has been geriatric in nature for some time now.
The NV van is an excellent product but I'm sure the Sprinters, Transits, ect have eliminated any advantages only leaving the NV being superior to GM's neanderthalesque offerings in this segment.
If they really want to make money they need to stop production of the Titan.
Depends on what you happen to like Clint.
If you want a van with an engine/trans combo that will last more than 50 thousand miles buy the GM van. Ask anybody who works on this stuff for a living and they'll back me up.
The rest of the van may be junk but the drivetrains are good for 200k miles or more with very little love and attention. If you live in the rust belt your floorboards will have plywood on 'em before the engines crap out.
The FCA vans and the Ford vans are strictly for those who are attracted to the latest notions about turbo and styling and diesel. Good luck to them.
I think one of the reasons Titan is failing is because all they make is PREMIUM Platinum (Diesel) cost as much as a Premium F-250 Powerstroke, Ram 2500 Cummins. If that the case why not buy a real DIESEL!
"The decision to merge with Rennault cannot be undone, but its effects are obvious."
What's more obvious is your misspelling of the word "Renault".
Haha--gotcha!
The Titan did not make a compelling value proposition vs the B3. The gasser makes more sense from an economic standpoint but even the product manager for Titan made the point that it’s a good truck but so is everybody else’s. Good try but many saw this coming. Even Toyota appears content with their market share, not wanting in on the red ocean.
It's simple.
The Nissan Titan [and Toyota Tundra] are not efficient enough as full-size trucks. They surely cannot best the abilities brought to us by Ford and the others per payload and towing. Plus you get dinged with crappy fuel economy to boot.
They need to implement both a true [read lighter] half ton and an HD strategy if they're going to be viable in this competitive market going forward.
Probably anyone with half a brain questioned Nissan's original Titan XD tweener strategy. There are reasons manufacturers didn't no want Cummins long in the tooth 5L V8 diesel. Add to that, Nissan doesn't seem to be able to keep up with a relatively competitive pickup market. Maybe it's finally time for Nissan to fall on the sword.
Juke or Cube? Do not buy one with an auto trans!
Actually I would not buy any Nissan with auto trans at this point. Even if I found the Nissan Frontier of my dreams it would have to be a manual trans. Their autos are not what you want.
Posted by: papajim | Jan 23, 2019 9:11:43 AM
Wow. Could you post any less factual? The Frontier has not had any widespread automatic issues since the pre 2011 models that had cross contamination of coolant because of the radiator tanks cracking and mixing with the transmission fluid. The Frontier, while dated, is easily the most reliable truck in the segment, as it should be due to it's age. The CVT transmissions Nissan offers are nearly bullet proof, but people who are not aware of a properly functioning CVT will often think "somethings wrong or it's slipping". We have a very poorly maintained 2008 Rouge automatic in our family with 180k hard miles. The transmission fluid is like new. One valve cover due to leaking spark plug o-rings and one radiator in 11 years. Probably has had 10 oil changes in it's life. I know nothing about the Titan other than it's ugly.
The Courier's coming back!
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a25998560/ford-confirms-new-small-pickup/?utm_source=facebook&src=socialflowFBCAD&utm_campaign=socialflowFBCD&utm_medium=social-media&fbclid=IwAR3a4ljVGJ6LOCPVmmf-lL17HEFnOG6qirsgFl3mGKkzyympbCRaE7oFSFY
We have a very poorly maintained 2008 Rouge automatic in our family with 180k hard miles. The transmission fluid is like new.
@Randy
It isn't my fault that you family made the mistake of buying a Rouge of any shape, color, engine-trans, etc. Not my fault.
Evidently your single experience with ONE sub-compact Nissan that's 10 bleeping years old DEFINES the entire company AND disputes my comment.
Titan is not doing very good. It is selling at 30% of what they projected with sales falling further.
@Tom L
Have you driven one?
Immaterial
I actually like the Titan gasser. The cummins is kinda a mixed bag. Doesn't really have a place. There's a guy in town that has a midnight edition. Its sharp looking . He gets around 19 with it. Not great but not horrible. The older titans were notorious for 13 to 15s. I knew a few that got as bad as 11s with theirs.
It makes me wonder if GM hired some of those Renault and Peugeot designers to design the 2019 and 2020 Silverado.
@JeffS
Have you checked GM's stock price?
Have you driven one?
Posted by: papajim | Jan 23, 2019
Immaterial
Posted by: Tom Lemon | Jan 23, 2019
I'll presume that means NO. In other words you're a bigot.
Have you checked GM's stock price?
Posted by: the FAKE papa | Jan 23, 2019
Yes. GM's share price as of today is 10 bucks per share HIGHER than its 2016 low. They've had the same CEO for five years.
any questions?
No, it means Titan is at 30% of their sales target and is not very successful. Get a grip.
The FAKE Tom Lemon probably
The FAKE Tom Lemon
The FAKE papajim
The FAKE TNTGMC
The FAKE ken
papajim is a tro||
The FAKE Jeff s
Nice pupajam.
How can you turn two 'Murican designed and engineered vehicles and make them French?
The Frontier and Titan were both designed and developed in La Jolla.
Even both the V8s, diesel and gas engines are 'Murica.
You are a racist turd, mate. You also highlight your fear and stipidity ......... often.
Yes. GM's share price as of today is 10 bucks per share HIGHER than its 2016 low.
Posted by: papajim | Jan 23, 2019 1:06:50 PM
As if you could time the market that way.
If I bought GM stock at this same time 1 yr ago I would lose $6 a share.
The numbers don't lie. I own a nissan and have enjoyed its reliability. But I recognize that the company's cvt transmissions are trash. Serious mistakes and oversights took place.
1- Nissan could have tuned the suspension on the titan xd to tow and haul better. The Diesel and Transmission in the XD are underrated. But they decided that they wanted the truck to ride like a half ton. Which was a big mistake.
2- They could have easily put some competitive technology in both the half ton and XD. They didn't, so thats again on them for not pandering to the A.D.D. buyers.
3- The Frontier is a fine truck. I can say this from experience. All they needed to do was issue periodic updates to the powertrain and technology and it wouldn't be taking the beating in the press that it currently is. The 4.0 is a solid engine that would go a long way with some tuning upgrades and a few technical updates. And the transmission could use a couple more gears.
None of these would be huge expensive redesigns. Just some tweaking of solid platforms. I don't know it all but it seems like it really wouldn't take much to make Nissan's truck offerings competitive. (Proof I don't know it all, I just found out my frontier shares frame components with the previous Titan. Not a bad backbone for a midsize truck).
I have a family member that has the first generation Titan and know people who have them as well and all seem to really like them. They are durable trucks. It is hard for Nissan and Toyota to compete with Ford, GM, and Ram on full size pickups. Yes the gas mileage is not as good but the Titan has a durable drivetrain. The people I know that have Titans have the V8s and they have well over 200k trouble free miles. It would be better for Nissan to drop the Titan even though it is a well built truck because there is just not enough volume there to justify its existence. Better to bring out a new Frontier and price it just below the competition and build the volume The Frontier is where Nissan can grow sales and it is a very solid truck for the money. Nissan should not wait to long to introduce a new Frontier with the Ranger coming soon. If Nissan came out with a new Frontier and priced it lower it could steal some sales from the Ranger and definitely the attention that the new Ranger is getting.
would be better for Nissan to drop the Titan even though it is a well built truck because there is just not enough volume there to justify its existence.
The FAKE Jeff is out of control.
Have you checked GM's stock price?
Posted by: FAKE PAPA | Jan 23, 2019
In The News Today: Ford profits down more than 50 percent in 2018
In the news very soon. New Executive Team sworn in at Ford.
would be better for Nissan to drop the Titan even though it is a well built truck because there is just not enough volume there to justify its existence.
The FAKE Jeff is out of control.
Posted by: FAKE PAPAJIM | Jan 23, 2019
@papajim---This is the real Jeff S. The Titan is not gaining any sales for Nissan. I doubt it is the looks because the looks are not bad and the drivetrains are solid. Maybe Nissan needs to offer a V6 and make the price more competitive but that might not be enough. Since the tooling is already there and the factory capacity offering a work truck priced at a lower price might help. It would definitely get some fleet sales. The Titan might not have all the gizmos of the Big 2 1/2 but it is a good solid truck. It is obvious that whatever Nissan is doing with the Titan is not working. The Frontier is selling because it is a good value for the money but if Nissan had a new Frontier competitively price it could take away some of the thunder from the new Ranger.
Maybe Nissan needs to offer a V6 and make the price more competitive but that might not be enough. Since the tooling is already there and the factory capacity offering a work truck priced at a lower price might help.
@Jeff
You and I can agree about this but the smart guys over in Japan would (correctly) ask why in hell they built a huge modern plant in Mississippi so they could compete with GM and Ford for a few fleet sales.
Toyota is a much better company than Nissan and they can't sell half-ton trucks to Americans either, despite both companies offering a pretty good full size truck or two. Toyota pulled their V6 pickup from the market here a few years ago.
I predict that Nissan will withdraw from the US truck market completely if they can't get a partner like GM or RAM.
Maybe Nissan needs to offer a V6 and make the price more competitive but that might not be enough. Since the tooling is already there and the factory capacity offering a work truck priced at a lower price might help.
@Jeff
You and I can agree about this but the smart guys over in Japan would (correctly) ask why in hell they built a huge modern plant in Mississippi so they could compete with GM and Ford for a few fleet sales.
Toyota is a much better company than Nissan and they can't sell half-ton trucks to Americans either, despite both companies offering a pretty good full size truck or two. Toyota pulled their V6 pickup from the market here a few years ago.
I predict that Nissan will withdraw from the US truck market completely if they can't get a partner like GM or RAM.
@papajim---This is the real Jeff S. The Titan is not gaining any sales for Nissan.
Posted by: FAKE JEFF | Jan 23, 2019
The FAKE Jeff
@papajim--Agree. Even a product such as the Titan that is a good product that does not meet the target then it needs to be pulled from the market. I rented an Impala LTZ a few years ago when I was in San Francisco and my neighbors and friends have a late model LaCrosse which is a beautiful well made car but the sales of both cars continued to go in a downward spiral. I really liked the Impala and I like the LaCrosse and would buy either if I was in the market for a car but I fully understand why GM is discontinuing both. Same is true with the Chevy Cruze really a very good compact car. Sometimes a really good car or truck does not do as well in the marketplace. Truck owners are very loyal to a specific brand and it can be difficult to get owners to change brands.
@papajim--The latest news on Hackett and Ford. Hackett might not last.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/01/wall-street-concerned-over-ford-ceos-cautious-strategy/#more-1658476
The latest news on Hackett and Ford. Hackett might not last.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/01/wall-street-concerned-over-ford-ceos-cautious-strategy/#more-1658476
Posted by: Jeff s | Jan 23, 2019 6:23:33 PM
Fake Jeff
Stay on topic. We want to hear your opinions and thoughts, but please only comment about the specified topic in the blog post.
When the 2004 Titan came out it brought out some innovative features and a powerful V8 into a relatively stale pickup market. This pushed the big three to come out with more innovative products and in recent years have put a lot of investment into trucks. Now the big three are on top and Nissan which focuses on cars and crossovers simply doesn't have the capital to put the same money into trucks as say Ford.
When the 2004 Titan came out it brought out some innovative features and a powerful V8 into a relatively stale pickup market. This pushed the big three to come out with more innovative products and in recent years have put a lot of investment into trucks. Now the big three are on top and Nissan which focuses on cars and crossovers simply doesn't have the capital to put the same money into trucks as say Ford.
@papajim
Frontier and Titan were designed in the US absolutely nothing to do with Renault French Renault is doing reasonably we'll, and is using the Nissan Navara as a base for their Alaskan
@papjim
What has this got to do with Nissan?
"Have you checked GM's stock price?
Posted by: FAKE PAPA | Jan 23, 2019
In The News Today: Ford profits down more than 50 percent in 2018
In the news very soon. New Executive Team sworn in at Ford."
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