Nissan Closes One of Its Most Historic Locations Amid Major Cutbacks | Carscoops

      The company plans to shut down up to seven production facilities as part of a consolidation initiative.

      Nissan is set to close its Oppama plant in Japan and consolidate manufacturing to Kyushu.

      This plant currently produces the Note and Note Aura, employing around 2,400 workers. Production of the NV200 will also conclude, but a successor model is expected by fiscal year 2027.

      Nissan has revealed its intention to stop operations at the Oppama plant by the end of the 2027 fiscal year, representing another setback for the automaker.

      The Oppama facility, which began operations in 1961, employs about 2,400 individuals. It currently manufactures the Note and Note Aura and has previously produced various models, including the Bluebird, Cube, Juke, and Leaf.

      However, due to Nissan's decline, the plant is set to be closed as part of the Re:Nissan recovery strategy. According to this plan, "current and future models scheduled for production at Oppama will be built at Nissan Motor Kyushu," which has been operational since 1976 and currently manufactures the Serena and X-Trail for Japan, in addition to the Rogue for international markets.

      Despite the closure of the Oppama plant, its extensive campus will remain active. This means that the Nissan Research Center, crash test facility, and wharf will not be affected by the production stoppage.

      Nissan has stated that they will “explore a wide range of options” for the future of the Oppama plant and will engage in discussions with employees and their union. Nonetheless, the company determined that relocating and consolidating vehicle production is the most effective strategy, based on production capacity, cost efficiency, and investment potential.

      The automaker also noted that the Re:Nissan plan aims to reduce global production capacity from 3.5 million units to 2.5 million units, not including China. They are optimistic that these reductions will help boost plant utilization rates to approximately 100%. Nissan mentioned they are “considering consolidating production sites from 17 to 10.”

      In related news, Nissan announced that production of the NV200 will be terminated at the Shatai Shonan plant in fiscal year 2026, with a successor model to be introduced the following fiscal year.

      Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa stated, “Today, Nissan made a difficult but essential decision. It wasn’t an easy choice for me or for the company, but I believe it’s a crucial step towards overcoming our current challenges and establishing a sustainable future.” He further emphasized, “We will continue our operations in the Oppama area with strong support for the local community, as we preserve the spirit of the Oppama plant and strive to restore Nissan’s true value.”