Nissan plans to invest €140 million to add a new diesel-truck line at its Avila factory to boost production rates 60% to 24,000 units a year.
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Nissan has also signed a new collective labour agreement at the 645-employee facility to bolster worker flexibility and preserve jobs, the company said in a statement.
The line will make new diesel-powered trucks to replace the current Cabstar and Atleon models. It will be ready in summer 2006 and export output to Europe and the rest of the world.
Nissan made 18,565 commercial vehicles at the plant last year – 12,681 Cabstars and 5,884 Atleons.
Separately, Nissan Spain’s director general Teruo Takebe said the company’s factory in Barcelona will produce 170,000 units in 2005, up from 123,000 units this year, boosted by strong demand and efforts to streamline production.
Takebe added Nissan expects 200 workers at its Cuatro Vientos engine plant to accept transfers to Barcelona as part of its plans to shut the factory in June 2006.
Nissan has offered the remaining 450 Cuatro Vientos workers pre-retirement, voluntary leaves and job relocations, according to Spanish trades unions.
Takebe said Nissan is still studying what to do with the factory when it closes it.
Ivan Castano
