Nissan has announced a number of restructuring plans to its European operations. The planned measures will include cutting around 900 jobs in Europe – around 10% of Nissan Europe's total - and merging the two lines at its UK (Sunderland) manufacturing plant into one line. Nissan will also close a warehousing plant in Spain (Barcelona).
The planned changes are being made under the RE:Nissan recovery plan.
The Sunderland plant consolidation leaves a production line free for potential contract manufacturing with another OEM – it has been reported that the company has been in discussions with Chinese companies including Chery.
The Financial Times reported that Nissan confirmed it is exploring “opportunities with third parties to maximise plant utilisation” which is estimated at around 50%.
In December of last year, Nissan started production of the third generation Nissan Leaf at its Sunderland, UK, plant.
The Nissan Sunderland plant will follow Leaf with a new all-electric Nissan Juke next year, with both models built on the plant’s current production line two. Under the new plans that line will also make the Qashqai SUV model.
Under the Re:Nissan recovery plan, Nissan is aiming to deliver improvements in cost structure, capacity use and product momentum to support future growth.
Nissan has also recently outlined a long-term strategic plan.
