NMKV

NMKV Co., Ltd. is a Japanese joint venture established by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to coordinate the development and production of kei cars. Its products are sold under the Nissan and Mitsubishi marques rather than as NMKV-branded vehicles. The company was created as the partners expanded their cooperation beyond conventional original-equipment supply arrangements, with the objective of improving their competitiveness in Japan's highly regulated and cost-sensitive kei-car segment. Nissan and Mitsubishi agreed to broaden their cooperation on 14 December 2010. They signed a formal agreement to establish a joint venture on 20 May 2011, and NMKV was incorporated on 1 June 2011. At its creation, the partners sought to increase their combined share of the Japanese kei-car market from approximately 15 percent toward a stated target of 20 percent. The venture also addressed different strategic needs within the two companies: Nissan wanted a stronger and more efficient kei-car development base, while Mitsubishi could share development expenses and use Nissan technologies and procurement capabilities. The operating model divided responsibilities between the partners. Nissan took responsibility for parts procurement, product planning, styling and design-related functions. Mitsubishi contributed vehicle-development expertise, engines, manufacturing facilities and production capabilities. Safety technologies and other systems supplied through Nissan complemented Mitsubishi's engineering and manufacturing resources. The arrangement enabled the companies to create vehicles with common body structures and shared technical foundations while differentiating the brands through front-end styling, trim and equipment. The first major result of the venture was announced on 6 March 2013: the third-generation Mitsubishi eK and the first-generation Nissan Dayz. Both entered the Japanese market in June 2013. Their joint development reportedly reduced costs by about 30 percent compared with the preceding models, helped by shared engineering and parts procurement, including sourcing outside Japan. The vehicles used a newly developed engine based on Mitsubishi's 3B20 unit, with Nissan engineering input used to raise the compression ratio for operation on regular gasoline. NMKV subsequently coordinated the development of taller kei wagons. Nissan announced the Dayz Roox name and a design sketch in March 2013, while Mitsubishi announced the eK Space name later that year. The two models went on sale on 13 February 2014. The related product families allowed the companies to address the expanding Japanese demand for compact vehicles with tall cabins and flexible interior space while retaining separate Nissan and Mitsubishi identities. NMKV's work has remained focused on domestic Japanese kei vehicles. Its principal production portfolio has included the Mitsubishi eK, Nissan Dayz, Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Roox. The venture has not been identified as a producer of kei commercial vehicles; during the period described by the available reference material, Nissan and Mitsubishi continued to source or rebadge commercial kei vehicles from Suzuki instead. NMKV's headquarters functions are based at Nissan's technical center in Atsugi, with additional activities connected to Mitsubishi's technical and manufacturing facilities in Okazaki and Mizushima. The company's history is also connected to the 2016 Mitsubishi fuel-efficiency-data scandal. Mitsubishi Motors acknowledged that employees had falsified fuel-economy data for the eK Wagon, eK Space, Nissan Dayz and Nissan Dayz Roox. The disclosure affected vehicles developed through the NMKV partnership and contributed to Nissan's acquisition of a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors in May 2016. The available material does not indicate that NMKV itself was separately accused of falsifying the figures, but the episode materially affected the corporate relationship surrounding the joint venture.

NMKV emerged from the expanding commercial and technical relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. Before the venture was created, the two companies cooperated through OEM supply arrangements, but both had reasons to pursue a deeper structure for kei cars. Kei vehicles are a distinctive Japanese category subject to limitations on dimensions, engine displacement and taxation, making scale, common engineering and efficient procurement particularly important. Nissan wanted to strengthen its presence in the category, while Mitsubishi needed a way to spread the substantial cost of new kei-car development across a broader partnership. On 14 December 2010, Nissan and Mitsubishi agreed to expand their cooperation from OEM supply to a joint venture. A formal contract followed on 20 May 2011, and NMKV was established on 1 June 2011. The venture was intended to help increase the partners' combined share of Japan's kei-car market. At the time of formation, the companies cited a share of roughly 15 percent and aimed to reach about 20 percent. NMKV was organized around complementary responsibilities. Nissan was assigned parts procurement, planning and design, while Mitsubishi was responsible for manufacturing and vehicle development. Mitsubishi supplied engineering resources, its 3B20-based powertrain expertise, factories and development facilities. Nissan contributed procurement scale, design and safety technologies. This division allowed the companies to share the expensive underlying work while retaining different brand presentations. Common body structures could be combined with distinct front fascias, bumpers, trim and equipment so that the resulting vehicles appeared as Nissan or Mitsubishi products. The first jointly developed vehicles were announced on 6 March 2013: the third-generation Mitsubishi eK and first-generation Nissan Dayz. They entered the market in June of that year. The program reportedly reduced development and production costs by approximately 30 percent relative to the predecessor models, partly through common parts and procurement outside Japan. The powertrain was based on Mitsubishi's 3B20 engine, with Nissan technical input supporting a higher compression ratio suitable for regular gasoline. The project represented a shift away from simple rebadging toward a more integrated product-development relationship. The partners then extended the approach to tall-wagon kei cars. Nissan announced the Dayz Roox name and a design sketch on 25 March 2013. Mitsubishi subsequently announced the eK Space name on 3 October. The two vehicles were launched on 13 February 2014. In June 2013, Mitsubishi also stated that future kei-car development would be unified through NMKV, emphasizing the venture's role as the central platform for cooperation in the category. The available description of NMKV's organization indicates a small central development team supported by personnel from the parent companies. In June 2013, the core development team consisted of four people, divided equally between Nissan and Mitsubishi, while the broader development group included 18 people, most of them from Mitsubishi. NMKV's principal facilities included its headquarters at Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, an office at Mitsubishi's Okazaki technical center and an office at Mitsubishi's Mizushima plant in Kurashiki. The venture did not initially develop kei commercial vehicles; Nissan and Mitsubishi continued to use Suzuki-supplied commercial kei models for that area. In April 2016, Mitsubishi Motors acknowledged that employees had falsified fuel-efficiency data for the eK Wagon, eK Space, Nissan Dayz and Nissan Dayz Roox. Because these vehicles were developed through the NMKV framework, the disclosure affected the partnership's product portfolio and reputation. Nissan acquired a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors in May 2016, a development linked to the scandal. The available reference material does not establish a separate NMKV corporate finding of misconduct, but the incident became a major event in the history of the joint venture and its parent-company relationship. NMKV's continuing role is that of a Japanese-market development and manufacturing coordinator rather than a consumer-facing vehicle marque. Its output is presented through Nissan and Mitsubishi dealerships and brand identities, with the eK, Dayz, eK Space and Roox families representing the best-known products associated with its activities.

• 2016

  Fuel-efficiency data scandal

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  Mitsubishi acknowledged falsification of fuel-efficiency data affecting four NMKV-related models; Nissan acquired Mitsubishi Motors the following month.

• 2014

  Tall-wagon kei cars launched

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  The Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Dayz Roox entered the Japanese market on 13 February.

• 2013

  First joint vehicle program announced

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  The third-generation Mitsubishi eK and first-generation Nissan Dayz were announced as NMKV's first jointly developed vehicles.

• 2013

  Unified future kei-car development planned

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  Mitsubishi announced that future kei-car development would be consolidated through NMKV.

• 2011

  NMKV is established

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  A formal agreement was signed in May, and NMKV was established on 1 June 2011.

• 2010

  Nissan and Mitsubishi expand cooperation

  [1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  The automakers agreed to move beyond OEM supply cooperation and pursue a joint venture for kei-car development and production.

A behind-the-scenes vehicle-development and manufacturing joint venture focused on cost-efficient, technology-sharing kei cars for Japan, with products marketed through Nissan and Mitsubishi brand networks.

• Kei car · 2013

  Mitsubishi eK

  The eK is Mitsubishi's core kei-car family developed through NMKV. The third-generation vehicle, announced in 2013, shared its principal engineering and body architecture with the Nissan Dayz while using Mitsubishi-specific exterior treatment and brand presentation. It formed one of the venture's first major products and was among the vehicles affected by the 2016 fuel-efficiency-data issue.

• Kei car · 2013

  Nissan Dayz

  The Dayz is Nissan's principal standard-height kei-car line developed jointly with Mitsubishi through NMKV. The first-generation Dayz was announced alongside the third-generation Mitsubishi eK in March 2013 and went on sale in June. It used shared underlying engineering while receiving Nissan-specific styling, equipment and safety integration.

• Tall-wagon kei car · 2014

  Mitsubishi eK Space

  The eK Space is Mitsubishi's tall-wagon kei car developed as the companion model to the Nissan Dayz Roox. It was designed to provide a higher roof and more flexible passenger space while sharing the joint platform and development work established by NMKV. Mitsubishi differentiated it through its own front-end design, trim and market positioning.

• Tall-wagon kei car · 2014

  Nissan Roox

  The Nissan Roox family, initially launched as the Dayz Roox, is Nissan's tall and spacious kei-car offering associated with NMKV's second major vehicle program. It shares core development with the Mitsubishi eK Space but uses Nissan design and branding. The model was aimed at Japanese buyers seeking compact exterior dimensions with a roomier cabin.

• 2016

  Mitsubishi fuel-efficiency data falsification

  Mitsubishi Motors admitted that employees had falsified fuel-efficiency data for the eK Wagon, eK Space, Nissan Dayz and Nissan Dayz Roox. The affected vehicles were connected to NMKV's joint development program. The episode damaged Mitsubishi's credibility and was followed by Nissan's acquisition of a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors in May 2016.

  Source

Read more

• 2013

  Launch the first jointly developed kei carsProduct launch

  Background

  The partners needed products that could demonstrate the practical value of the new joint venture while preserving separate Nissan and Mitsubishi identities.

  Action taken

  NMKV coordinated the third-generation Mitsubishi eK and first-generation Nissan Dayz, which were announced in March and launched in June 2013.

  Aftermath

  The program reportedly reduced costs by about 30 percent compared with the predecessor models and established the venture's shared-platform operating model.

  Reported cost reduction versus predecessor models. Approximately 30% lower (2013 vehicle program)

  Source

• 2013

  Extend the platform to tall-wagon kei carsProduct launch

  Background

  After the first eK and Dayz program, Nissan and Mitsubishi sought to address the tall-wagon segment with another shared vehicle family.

  Action taken

  The partners developed the Nissan Dayz Roox and Mitsubishi eK Space, which went on sale in February 2014.

  Aftermath

  The two brands gained separately styled entries in the spacious tall-wagon kei-car segment.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand cooperation into a joint ventureStrategy

  Background

  Nissan and Mitsubishi sought greater scale and lower development costs in Japan's kei-car market, moving beyond conventional OEM supply cooperation.

  Action taken

  The companies agreed to establish a jointly owned company dedicated to kei-car planning, development and manufacturing.

  Aftermath

  The agreement led to NMKV's incorporation in June 2011 and created the framework for shared Nissan and Mitsubishi kei-car programs.

  Source

• 2014

  Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Dayz Roox go on sale[1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The partners launched their jointly developed tall-wagon kei cars, sold as the Mitsubishi eK Space and Nissan Dayz Roox.

• 2013

  First jointly developed eK and Dayz models announced[1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  NMKV introduced the third-generation Mitsubishi eK and first-generation Nissan Dayz, marking the first major vehicle program produced through the venture.

• 2011

  NMKV formally established[1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following a formal agreement signed in May, NMKV was established on 1 June as the Nissan–Mitsubishi vehicle-development joint venture.

• 2010

  Nissan and Mitsubishi agree to expand cooperation toward a joint venture[1]NMKVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The two automakers agreed to broaden their relationship from OEM supply cooperation to a joint venture focused on kei-car development and production.

1. 1NMKVen.wikipedia.org