Nissan To Shut Oppama Plant In Japan, Shift Production To Kyushu Facility As Part Of Restructuring Plan
- By MT Bureau
- July 16, 2025
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co., which has been undertaking significant measures to improve its financial performance and is restructuring global operations, has announced that it plans to transfer and integrate vehicle production at the Oppama Plant, located in the Oppama district, to Nissan Motor Kyushu Co., Ltd in Fukuoka Prefecture.
This move part of the ‘Re:Nissan’ recovery plan aims to reduce its global production capacity from 3.5 million units (excluding China) to 2.5 million units, while maintaining a plant utilisation rate of around 100 percent. To achieve this, the company has been considering the consolidation of production sites from 17 to 10.
Nissan Reiterates Commitment For India, Targets 200,000 Unit Sales For FY2026
The new announcement will see vehicle production shutting down at Nissan’s Oppama plant at the end of fiscal 2027. Following this, both current and future models scheduled for production at Oppama will be manufactured at Nissan Motor Kyushu.
On the other hand, facilities and functions in the district – such as the Nissan Research Center, Grandrive, the crash test facility and Oppama Wharf – will remain unaffected and continue operations as usual.
Ivan Espinosa, CEO, Nissan Motor Co, said, "Today, Nissan made a tough but necessary decision. It wasn’t easy – for me or for the company – but I believe it’s a vital step toward overcoming our current challenges and building a sustainable future. The Oppama Plant is a proud part of our history, and its legacy will endure. I want to sincerely thank our employees, the local community, and our partners who have supported this plant with dedication and heart. We will continue to operate in the Oppama area with strong support for the local community, as we carry forward the spirit of Oppama plant and work to restore Nissan’s true value."
While the company has announced the shutdown of manufacturing operations at the Oppama plant, it is still exploring a ‘wide range of options to determine the most appropriate path forward’.
The company will continue to retain employees at the plant till the end of fiscal 2027 and is looking to initiate discussions with the union on the future course of action.
Furthermore, the Japanese automaker has also announced that production of the NV200, currently consigned to the Nissan Shatai Shonan Plant, will end in fiscal year 2026. A successor to the NV200 is planned for introduction in fiscal year 2027, with further details to be shared at a later date.
With this decision, Nissan said it has concluded all vehicle production consolidation actions in Japan under the Re:Nissan plan.
Omega Seiki Mobility’s New $25 Million Vehicle Assembly Facility To Come Up In Dubai’s Jafza Region
- By MT Bureau
- August 13, 2025
Delhi NCR-headquartered electric vehicle maker Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) has announced its first international electric vehicle assembly plant in Jafza, Dubai, which is set to be operational by the end of 2025.
The company said it will invest USD 25 million over the next five years to accelerate its global expansion and meet rising demand for low-emission transport in the region.
The new facility, spread across 42,000 sqft, is claimed to be the first EV plant in Jafza region, which will assemble two-wheelers and three-wheelers. It will also support the storage and distribution of auto components and spare parts for the company.
OSM aims to leverage the strategic location to serve export markets across the Middle East and Africa region, along with creating 100 jobs in its initial phase.
Abdulla Al Hashmi, COO, Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, said, “More manufacturers are turning to Jafza to tap high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond. With the MENA EV market projected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2029, driven by supporting government policies, rising demand and expanding infrastructure, this facility brings innovative mobility solutions closer to the region and underlines Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive sector.”
Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, “This launch is a proud moment for us and fitting that it comes on Indian Independence Day. Jafza gives us unmatched connectivity to more than 2 billion consumers and a business environment that enables speed, scale and sustainability. Through Dubai, we aim to make clean mobility accessible and commercially viable for partners across the Middle East and Africa.”
Furthermore, the company also is mulling to introduce CNG models for select African region.
Mercedes-Benz Marks 600,000th G-Class With Electric Model
- By MT Bureau
- August 06, 2025
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has attained another milestone by rolling out the 600,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class from Graz, Austria. The milestone vehicle is an electric G 580 with EQ Technology finished in obsidian black metallic.
Since its launch in 1979, the G-Class has become a symbol of off-road capability and design. The first G-Models combined off-road performance with on-road comfort and Mercedes' safety standards. In the past four decades, it has evolved while retaining key features such as all-wheel drive, differential locks, and a ladder frame. Design elements like the round headlights and exposed spare wheel remain.
In celebration of its heritage, a limited edition, the G-Class Edition Stronger Than The 1980s, was released last year. This model paid homage to the original W 460 series.
The brand's customisation service, Manufaktur, has seen increasing popularity. Since 2019, over 90 percent of G-Class customers choose at least one Manufaktur option, averaging three per vehicle. Customers can now select from up to 20,000 paint colours, including heritage shades.
VinFast Inaugurates Tamil Nadu EV Plant
- By MT Bureau
- August 04, 2025
Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially inaugurated its electric vehicle assembly plant at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
The new facility is VinFast’s third operational plant and the fifth project in its global manufacturing network. It is part of the company’s long-term bet on selling its vehicle in the world’s third-largest automobile market.
The factory is spread across 400 acres and is equipped with state-of-the-art production lines, featuring advanced automation and technologies. The complex houses multiple workshops, including body shop, paint shop, assembly shop, quality control centre, and a logistics hub. It also includes an auxiliary cluster for local contractors, which is expected to expand in the coming years.
The company expects to create around 3,500 jobs for local workers at full capacity, along with several thousand indirect jobs in the supply chain ecosystem. To start with, the company will assembly the VF 7 and VF 6 electric vehicles with a capacity of 50,000 units per annum, which can be scaled upto 150,000 units per annum to meet market demand.
VinFast states with the Tamil Nadu plant on stream, it moves closer to its 2025 sales target of 200,000 vehicles and its long-term production goal of 1 million vehicles per year by 2030.
Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “The VinFast Tamil Nadu plant marks a strategic milestone in our long-term commitment to the Indian market. It establishes a strong foundation for sustainable growth and positions us to offer high-quality, competitively priced electric vehicles to Indian consumers. Looking ahead, the facility will expand its production capacity to meet rising demand. We aim to develop it into VinFast’s largest export hub for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In fact, we've already secured initial orders from several countries across these regions. In close collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, VinFast is working to transform the area into the 'EV capital of South Asia'—supporting both the dynamic domestic market and our broader regional ambitions.”
Going forward, VinFast aims to further promote localisation, technology transfer and also upskill its workforce.
China’s NIO Surpasses 800,000 Vehicle Production Milestone
- By MT Bureau
- July 28, 2025
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has attained a new production milestone with the 800,000th unit – Onvo L90 – rolling out from its Factory One in Hefei on 24 July 2025.
Since the pre-order started on 10 July, the company shared that the L90 has received widespread interest and recognition from users and the market.
Built on NIO’s decade of investment in the charging and swapping infrastructure, the L90 redefines the family-oriented three-row electric SUV by tackling two major user pain points: charging anxiety and space anxiety.
The test drives for the L90 officially began on 23 July with nearly 600 test drive cars now available at over 400 ONVO stores and showrooms in 140 cities in China. The L90 is set to be officially launched on 31 July, with deliveries starting 1 August.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT