Nissan has unveiled a second production plant in Thailand which will act as a production hub for the Navara, destined for export to 45 countries around the world, including Australia.
Nissan has invested 3.7 billion Thai Baht (A$122 million) in the 580,000 square metre facility, bringing with it 2000 new job opportunities. Full production capacity is expected to reach 150,000 units per year.
The new plant will increase Nissan’s annual production capacity in Thailand to 370,000 units.
Thailand is a key market for Nissan, the country now boasts two plants and an R&D facility, and is increasing in importance as the company’s Asian hub for exports and manufacturing.
Nissan Australia general manager – corporate communications, Peter Fadeyev, told AutoTalk: “At the moment Australia currently sources Navara’s from Thailand and Spain, with this all-new model, the scheduling for production has us getting it from Thailand.
“There are a variety of factors that involve the reasoning to move to Thailand,” he notes.
“Typically, the reasoning involves other markets beyond ours as well as basic economic and, geographical, time of delivery and the intent of the plant for the longer term- and the model that it’s going to build.”
One of the biggest positives of the move, will be for Australian and New Zealand based car dealerships, as the move to Thailand from Spain will mean much shorter shipping times, which would be cut by 4 weeks on average.
“We do not anticipate any shortages for this all-new model Navara thanks largely to the reduced shipping times,” Fayadev adds.
“We don’t have sales forecast at the moment as to how the 2015 model might do, but we expect it will be very popular when it goes on sale. It is our biggest selling model at the moment.”
“Pricing for the current Navara D40 model in 2.5RX diesel 2WD dual cab starts at $31,390, while the D40 single cab 4X4, 2.5RX starts at $35,190. The top of the range 3L ST-X 550 4WD dual cab, starts at $64,190.
“We will announce the pricing for the new 2015 model closer to the time of release,” adds Fayadev.
More than half of the vehicles produced at the new plant will be exported to global markets.
“The NP300 Navara is our most durable pick-up, integrating the best of Nissan’s technological know-how, design skills and 80 years of pick-up production experience,” says Takao Katagiri, Nissan’s executive vice president responsible for Asia, Oceania and Japan businesses.
“With features such as LED projector headlamps with daytime running lights and the new 2.5L YD engine, I am confident this is going to be a popular model and will be our growth pillar in the region.”
The new plant produced its first Navara pick-up on July 1. The All-New Nissan Navara will go on-sale in the Australian market in early 2015.
According to figures released by New Zealand Customs, Thailand is the fourth largest exporter of new cars to New Zealand with more than 4074 units arriving in the six month period to 30 June 2014. Germany is the third largest exporter with 4536 new cars shipped to New Zealand in the six months to 30 June 2014, Korea is the second largest exporter of new cars, 7729 units to June 30, 2014 and Japan is the number one exporter of new cars to New Zealand, 15,266 units to 30 June, 2014.
Australia sits at 5th place, it exported new 3,970 cars to New Zealand in the six month periods to 30 June 2014
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