What’s Mitsubishi’s future Nissan van for the PH market?

A rebadged Nissan Urvan may really be coming to the Philippines. That’s if the Japanese automaker’s 2024 Financial Results announcement is anything to come by with.

Presented by new Nissan Motor Corporation President Ivan Espinosa, a presentation slide shows that the company will be partnering with Mitsubishi Motors to produce a rebadged van for our market with the label “OEM-out.”

We’re speculating two things about what that stands for. First, it could mean that Nissan Philippines will be manufacturing a van here through Mitsubishi Motors Philippines’ plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. In turn, Mitsubishi Motors would sell its own version.

The second is that they would simply rebadge the model and call it a day, similar to what we see from the Mitsubishi Xpander and Nissan Livina.

As for the exact model, speculations point to the Nissan Urvan. This makes the most sense as it is the only Nissan van on offer in our market. It would also give Mitsubishi Motors Philippines the chance to compete in the commercial van segment with the strong-selling Toyota Hiace Commuter.

Nissan is also already offering the Urvan in other markets with Mitsubishi’s 4N16 turbodiesel engine, while Mitsubishi Fuso also has a rebadged version as the Canter Van.

We don’t know for sure and we’re just speculating like others, but we won’t have to wait too long as the presentation also mentions that this Mitsubishi van will be coming within the year.

_{Main Photo: Edited by Sam Surla
Photos: Julian Panlilio}