In February 12 of this year,
a lightly-disguised, Nissan-rebadged twin of the Mitsubishi Xpander was spotted on the road in Indonesia. For the uninitiated,
we reported about this back in July 2018, following Mitsubishi's entry to form the
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. A week later, that Nissan-rebadged Xpander twin was
launched as the all-new Nissan Livina compact MPV alongside the
Nissan Serena MPV in Indonesia.
Following the launch, we asked
Nissan Philippines' then-President and Managing Director, Ramesh Narasimhan, if his company will bring in the all-new Livina, to which he replied: "Everyone of us are waiting for it. Let's wait and see."
At the launch of the new
Mitsubishi L300 yesterday at
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines' Santa Rosa, Laguna plant, as we were discussing the popularity of the Xpander in the country with one of our contacts within the Japanese carmaker, the rebadged Xpander/Livina was brought up. Asked if Nissan will bring the rebadged Xpander to the Philippines, we were given a resounding "No."
"From what we were told, Mitsubishi is afraid of the Livina eating into the sales of the Xpander, that's why the Livina won't be sold in the Philippines," our source told CARMUDI PHILIPPINES.
That's bad news for those we were looking to get their hands on the all-new Nissan Livina. Then again, as Mitsubishi does practically provide the entire vehicle for Nissan--save for some bits and pieces like the signature V-Motion grille and boomerang-shaped LED headlights--it certainly has the right to refuse. Why both are sold in Indonesia is another question that needs to be asked though.
So, unless something happens in the future that'll either force or make Mitsubishi agree to selling the Livina-badged Xpander in the Philippines, those who were looking for it will have to buy the Xpander itself. The good thing though is that the sales of the Xpander has stabilized enough that you don't have to wait for at least two months to get your hands on one unlike when it finally arrived in the country in 2018. There is also the creative local aftermarket bodykit manufacturers who can replicate the Livina's front end for you, from your neighborhood fiberglass fabricators to popular ones like
Starbright Bodykits and
Atoy Customs, for a price though.
