Nissan Motor To Make 57,000 Vans At Spain Plant In 2003

TOKYO November 27, 2002; Dow Jones reported that Nissan Motor Co. had plans to make 57,000 small commercial vehicles based on a platform Renault SA and General Motors Corp. have jointly developed, at its plant in Spain in 2003.

The start of fully-fledged production at Nissan Motor Iberica SA is expected to help the third-largest Japanese carmaker expand its global market presence in line with its medium-term plan.

Nissan, in which Renault holds a 44.4% stake, started in September production of the Nissan "Primaster" van based on the Renault-GM platform, at the Spanish plant.

Nissan will add a high-roof version to the standard Primaster in March, a Nissan spokeswoman said. The standard model is expected to account for 64% of planned output in 2003, with the high-roof type accounting for most of the remainder, she said.

Nissan Motor Iberica and GM's U.K. plant are the only manufacturers of cars based on the Renault-GM-developed platform. The Nissan subsidiary also supplies the van to Renault and GM for sales under the Renault and Opel brands.