NASHVILLE -- Nissan executives have promised that next year's redesigned Titan pickup, with an optional 5.0-liter V-8 diesel, will be a bold new product for the brand.
But it is also a new service challenge: The brand's 1,070 U.S. dealerships have not handled diesel engines in Nissan vehicles before.
The automaker is creating a dealer education program to roll out next year that taps trainers from the engine's supplier, Cummins Inc., and instructors from Nissan North America, says Mario Polit, Nissan's director of product, service & technical training.
"We are co-developing curricula with Cummins using a combination of e-learning, in-classroom and hands-on workshop training that will be conducted at all of our 11 training centers across the country," Polit says. "We will also leverage satellite training facilities in key markets."
Cummins' training will underscore Nissan's marketing plans for the Titan. In August, Fred Diaz, Nissan's U.S. sales and operations boss, said the automaker intends to involve Cummins in marketing the diesel-equipped truck to give the Titan a stronger "built in America" identity.
Nissan will be one of just two Asian brands planning to offer diesels in the U.S. Mazda plans to roll out a small-displacement diesel engine but has twice delayed its introduction.
Chrysler Group also offers an optional diesel, a V-6, in the Ram 1500.
The redesigned Titan is expected to launch in the second half of 2015. Nissan wants to have at least one technician skilled in diesel technology at each dealership in time for the launch. Polit believes it will take two months to move all of Nissan's dealerships through that first training wave.
Nissan also is hinting that there could be more diesels to come for the brand from Cummins. Planners are sizing up the feasibility of offering a four-cylinder diesel in the next-generation Frontier midsize pickup.