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Nissan and Chrysler are expanding their product sharing agreement with the announcement of two new vehicles for 2010 and 2011.

Nissan is to make a fuel-efficient small car at its Oppama plant in Japan based on a Chrysler design. The car will be sold as a Chrysler in North America, Europe and other markets from 2010.

Chrysler is to build a full-size pickup based on a Nissan design. The truck will be made at Chrysler's Saltillo plant in Mexico and will mean shifting volume from that plant to other Chrysler facilities in the US to make room for it. Sales of the pickup will start in North America from 2011.

Nissan and Chrysler have been linked in product agreements for some years. Nissan offshoot Jatco has supplied Chrysler with transmissions for four years, and in January this year Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a car based on its Versa for limited distribution in Latin America.

Chrysler president and CEO Tom LaSorda said: "Forging the right tactical partnerships is crucial to the long-term success of Chrysler."