Nissan Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC, the third-largest Japanese and U.S. automakers, may share technology to develop new cars and trucks, according to sources.
The talks focus on pickups, small cars and engines, the sources said, declining to be named because negotiations on the tieup are private. Nissan wants to tap Chrysler's expertise with large trucks, while Chrysler, acquired five months ago by buyout firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, seeks access to Nissan's small cars.
A deal may help both companies save money as Chrysler battles two years of losses and Nissan confronts a 16 percent decline in its stock price this year. It would add to a growing list of partnerships aimed at expanding product lineups and keeping assembly plants running with minimal investment.