Nissan will stay in SA

UNCERTAINTY: THE FUTURE OF THE ROSSLYN PLANT IS STILL NOT KNOWN

- Roy Cokayne

Nissan is strongly committed to the South African market, despite speculation that its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria is one of seven its Japanese parent company plans to close as part of its global turnaround strategy.

Maciej Klenkiewicz, the managing director of Nissan South Africa and independent markets, confirmed this on Tuesday, adding that SA is not only Nissan's headquarters for its operations in the southern African region but for the entire continent.

Klenkiewicz said some of the plants affected by the turnaround strategy have been announced by Nissan Motor Company, but not all seven plants and he declined to comment on speculation.

He stressed seven factories would either be closed, or their scale reduced, or production shifted to another location in terms of the strategy.

"I have no news about South Africa's future, but we are continuing to invest and produce Navara and are also investing in the development of products.

"There is only one decision," Nissan will stay in SA. This is a commitment that I can make.

"But what will happen with the rest of the plants in the world, I don't know," he said at a launch of Nissan's new X-Trail SUV and Magnite Kuro Black Edition sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Full speed

Nissan's Rosslyn plant is currently operating "at full speed" after some planned downtime earlier in the year, and "the good news is that this year, we will produce more Nissan Navaras than last year", Klenkiewicz said.

Nissan never comments on its actual production volumes but it plans to produce 20% more Navara units this year compared to last year. Klenkiewicz attributed this to increased market demand for the model, which is produced at the Rosslyn plant.