Nissan announced last week it will open a second production plant in Thailand.
Thailand is part of the company’s growth strategy in Asia. 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.
The new plant will be a production hub for the NP300 Navara, Nissan's new generation pickup truck, destined for export to 45 countries around the world.
Nissan has invested 3.7 billion Thai Baht (US$ 114 million) in the 580,000 square meter facility, bringing with it 2,000 new job opportunities. Full production capacity is expected to reach 150,000 units per annum.
"Thailand is the engine of growth for us in the region, so we're excited to be opening this second plant today that will produce our latest pickup", said Fumiaki Matsumoto, Nissan's executive vice president responsible for global manufacturing. "It signifies our optimism for Thailand, as a growing automotive market, a center of manufacturing excellence for the region and an export hub for the world."
More than half of the vehicles produced at this new plant will be exported to global markets.
The localization ratio of vehicles produced is already at 85%, including the engine plant.
Nissan has also invested 162 million Thai Baht in the new plant's zero discharge program, and will recycle all industrial wastewater through the Reverse Osmosis (RO) process. Nissan will continue to provide training to subcontractors and employees to raise the awareness of waste management and resource reduction.
Nissan first produced cars in Thailand back in 1963 when four cars rolled off the production line a day. The new plant will increase Nissan's production capacity in Thailand to 370,000 units.
