Japanese automaker Nissan Motor aims to manufacture 80% of vehicles sold in the US locally by the end of 2030.
The target compares with 65% currently and follows tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
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Nissan Americas management committee chairperson Christian Meunier told Nikkei Asia that local production had risen from 40% of US sales before the tariffs were introduced.
“In April of last year, we had significant headwinds from the tariffs, we pivoted toward building more US cars and localising all the cars and the parts,” Meunier said at a media roundtable, the publication reported.
Nissan is focusing on three US-produced models: the Rogue and Pathfinder sports utility vehicles, and the Frontier pickup truck.
The three models account for 55% of the company’s US sales.
The company has six vehicle and engine manufacturing operations across the US, Mexico, and Brazil.
Nissan is carrying out its Re:Nissan restructuring plan after weak profitability in its US operations contributed to wider business difficulties.
Meunier said Nissan’s US retail market share had declined from 6% to 7% over many years to about half that level.
“I would say the company had lost its fighting spirit, at least in the American region, especially in the US I think there was not the same appetite for selling cars,” he was quoted as saying.
Nissan has ended production of its first plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Rogue PHEV, which was introduced earlier this month for the North American market.
It plans to start US sales of a Rogue using its proprietary e-Power hybrid technology in November.
The model will initially be imported from Japan, while US production could begin in 2028.
Nissan’s localisation plans form part of a broader shift among Japanese automakers.
Honda Motor is in the final stages of talks on building a US hybrid vehicle factory, estimated to cost between $1.8bn and $2.5bn.
Toyota Motor plans to invest $1bn in electric and hybrid vehicle production for the North American market.
