https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Business case still being finalised for local production of new Nissan bakkie

26th June 2015

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

The new Nissan Navara has been launched onto the global market, but Nissan South Africa (NSA) will only know in August whether the local Rosslyn plant will assemble the one-ton pick-up.

The NSA plant currently produces the old NP300 Hardbody one-ton bakkie, as well as the NP200 half-ton pick-up.

NSA MD Mike Whitfield tells Engineering News that NSA and its Japanese parent company are working towards “finalising the business case” for production of the new Navara range in South Africa.

“This decision is a global decision and should be made clear around August. At this stage, it is looking positive. It is a massive project and would result in fairly significant investment.”

Should NSA be given the go-ahead for production of the new Navara, assembly will start late in 2017, says Whitfield.

Another option also being considered for the plant is the continued production of the current NP300 bakkie as a value-for-money pick-up alongside the new Navara.

Production of the NP200 was set to continue either way, notes Whitfield.

“The NP200 is a key part of our overall commercial vehicle strategy.”

Whitfield says Nissan has “no intention” of not using the Rosslyn plant.

“The question is how to use the plant, not whether it will be used.”

Whitfield adds that NSA is not looking at contract manufacturing for other vehicle brands to bridge the gap to 2017.

Without the new Navara in its production line-up, NSA will struggle to meet the target of assembling 50 000 units a year in order to qualify for selected government incentives under the Automotive Production and Development Programme.

While sales of the current NP300 in Africa and South Africa are still “going well”, export opportunities are diminishing as the new Navara is launched across the globe, says Whitfield.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Latest News

Rand South African flag
Rand slips ahead of CPI, central bank meetings
18th March 2024 By: Reuters
An image of Maltento CEO Dean Smorenburg, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Cape Town premier Alan Winde
Maltento aiming to bolster sustainability efforts
18th March 2024 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Showroom

Rittal
Rittal

Rittal is a world leading provider of top-quality integrated systems for enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure and...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.08 0.131s - 167pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now