| Nissan to Invest 600 million dollars in Mexico to expand its auto manufacturing capacity in the country |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Nissan To Build 3 Affordable Subcompacts In MexicoTOKYO (Nikkei)--Nissan Motor Co. (7201) plans to make three new low-cost subcompacts in Mexico, churning out a combined 300,000 units a year, The Nikkei learned Monday. Nissan total combined automobile production in Mexico will reach 700,000 units by the end of 2013.
The automaker will start assembling the March hatchback early next year, then add a sedan and a multipurpose vehicle by 2013. To do so, it will spend 600 million dollars, or some 52 billion yen, to replace equipment at existing plants.
Most of the vehicles will be produced at northern Mexico's Aguascalientes factory, which makes the Tiida and three other models. Also being considered is the Cuernavaca plant to the south, where three models are assembled, including pickup trucks. Output at these facilities, which have annual production capacities of roughly 350,000 units and around 250,000 units, respectively, will stay relatively unchanged.
Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga with the fully remodeled March subcompact. The three models are strategic offerings that use the highly cost-competitive V-platform. The March, called the Micra overseas, will sell for around 10,000 dollars, or about 900,000 yen. Already available in Thailand, Japan and India, orders for the model are holding steady. And by adding sedans and minivans to the lineup, Nissan aims to meet diversified market needs.
Mexico is positioned as a supply base for the Americas and is considered pivotal in meeting the growing demand from Brazil and other emerging markets. Nissan will sell 20% of the three new cars in Mexico and export the remainder throughout the Americas. By leveraging the free trade agreement between the U.S., Chile and other neighboring nations, the automaker also expects to hone its price competitiveness.
Nissan predicts that demand for gas-sipping subcompacts will grow in the U.S. as a result of tighter emissions standards. And with booming economic growth expected to lift income levels in Central and South America, affordable subcompacts are wheeling into the spotlight as entry cars for first-time buyers.
(The Nikkei July 27 morning edition)
|
Office of Mexico – Japan Economic Parnership Agreement
Mexico´s Secretary of Economy
3F 2-15-2 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3506 6681 Fax: +81 3 3506 6722
E-mail: comunicatokio@economia.gob.mx
|
