Renault ute version of new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara unlikely for Australia

Although Renault is part of the alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi – and the French division has dabbled in a joint-venture ute before – it’s unlikely for Australia with the next-generation model.

Current-generation Renault Alaskan ute pictured.

A Renault version of the new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara ute twins is unlikely for Australia – even though the French car maker has already experimented with plans for a rebadged pick-up.

Under the alliance with Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi all three brands can share – and mix and match – models to fill gaps in their line-up.

However, while Renault is expected to adopt a version of the new-generation Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara double-cab ute twins in overseas markets, a right-hand-drive version may not make the cut.

“If they do it in right-hand drive, we’ll look at it, for sure,” the boss of Renault Australia, Glen Sealey, told a recent media briefing. 

“But if they don’t build it in right-hand drive, it’s obviously not going to be available to even look at for our market.

MORE: Nissan Navara twin – Renault Alaskan – to live on overseas, unlikely for Australia

“The challenge is, there’s probably only two countries that will take (a right-hand-drive) Renault ute: ourselves and South Africa.

“To get (Renault) to invest in right-hand drive based on small volumes is going to be challenging.”

The current generation of Renault’s version of the Nissan Navara ute overseas is known as the Renault Alaskan, but it has never been available in Australia.

However, the distributor of Renault cars in Australia has not given up on the possibility of a right-hand-drive version of the Dacia Oroch – a car-derived pick-up based on the same platform as the Dacia Duster (see separate story here).

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