Nissan opens second plant in Thailand

Nissan has announced the opening of its second production plant in Thailand. The new facility will be a production hub for the NP300 Navara, Nissan's new-generation pickup truck, destined for export to 45 countries around the world. The first NP300 Navara pickup rolled out on July 1, with sales beginning today. Two versions are available: King Cab and Double Cab. The price of the King Cab ranges from 575,000 to 842,000 Thai Baht (Rs 10.52 lakh to 15.40 lakh), while the price for the Double Cab version ranges from 656,000 to 996,000 Thai Baht (Rs 12 lakh to Rs 18.22 lakh). Deliveries will begin in mid-August.

Thailand, which is a key market for Nissan and an integral part of its growth strategy in Asia along with India, now has two Nissan plants and an R&D facility. The country is also increasing in importance as the company's Asian hub for exports and manufacturing.

Nissan has invested 3.7 billion Thai Baht (Rs 677 crore) in the 580,000 square metre facility. Full production capacity at the plant, which employs 2,000 people, 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 centre 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 localisation ratio of vehicles produced is already at 85 percent, including the engine plant. Nissan has also invested 162 million Thai Baht (Rs 29 crore) in the new plant's zero discharge programme, and will recycle all industrial wastewater through the Reverse Osmosis (RO) process.

The Japanese manufacturer 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.

"The NP300 Navara is our most durable pickup, integrating the best of Nissan's technological know-how, design skills and 80 years of pickup production experience. With features such as LED projector headlamps with daytime running lights and the new 2.5-litre YD engine, I am confident this is going to be a popular model and will be our growth pillar in the region," said Takao Katagiri, Nissan's executive vice-president responsible for Asia, Oceania and Japan businesses.