Fourteen new model launches and a spend of over EUR2bn euros will take Nissan’s European production to a record level in 2014, chief planning officer and executive vice president Andy Palmer said.
Nissan built 675,077 vehicles in Europe last year – about 80% of the total sold – and expects to top that in 2014.
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Plants in Spain and Russia are readying to produce multiple new models. Barcelona is gearing up to make the electric e-NV200 van with the production version making its debut at the Geneva show.
Production of the new NT500 light truck has just started at Avila, Spain (the long-running Cabstar is now the NT400) and Barcelona soon will add a new C-segment hatchback. A new one tonne pick-up is also planned.
Russia is preparing for the launch of the Datsun brand with two new models and increasing production of the Nissan Almera at Togliatti, an AVTOVaz Alliance factory.
“Our top-selling models backed by a phalanx of significant new launches will ensure than Nissan’s European production will reach unprecedented heights in 2014 and keep us on target to reach our goal of becoming Europe’s number one Asian brand in 2016,” said Palmer.
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By GlobalDataEUR430m has been spent at the three plants in Spain, ready to launch the four new vehicles in 2014 and 2015. Once the new pickup arrives, Barcelona will produce 200,000 vehicles annually. It also builds the NV200, Pathfinder, Navara and the Primastar van, also sold as the Renault Trafic and Opel Vivaro.
The Cantabria machining plant is now producing brake discs and steering knuckles for European made models.
Within the next four years, Nissan is aiming to triple its sales in Russia to claim a market share of at least 10%. By 2016, up to 80% of those sales will be built locally. Expansion is already under way – spending includes EUR167m to double capacity at St Petersburg and EUR60m to introduce a new production line at Togliatti.
In 2015, the redesigned Qashqai will join the X-Trail, Teana and Murano in St. Petersburg, along with another model, still to be announced.
Meanwhile, the Datsun launch will see two new models being produced at Togliatti where the Nissan Almera also is built.
The UK plant is expected to build its two millionth Qashqai this year and 2015 will see the start of production of the first Europe-built Infiniti, the Q30.
