NISSAN announced today that its Avila plant in Spain will produce a brand new medium-duty truck by the end of 2013.
Nissan will invest more than 100m euros to develop the model and prepare the Avila plant and its local suppliers for the start of production next year.
The vehicle will complement the Cabstar light truck line-up and contribute to an overall increase in Avila’s annual production volume, safeguarding jobs.
It will also support Nissan’s constant expansion in the European commercial vehicle segment where Nissan is aiming to double both its sales volume and market share in the mid-term.
In the year to March 31, 2012, Nissan sold more than 62,000 units in this growing part of the market, representing a 16 per cent year-on-year increase. Over 90 per cent of these sales were of Spanish-built products, including the multi-award winning NV200 van and popular Navara Pickup.
Frank Torres, Nissan Spanish Industrial Operation Vice-president, said: ‘Nissan has one of the most comprehensive industrial footprints in Europe of any overseas brand, producing passenger vehicles, pickups, SUVs, crossovers and trucks within the region.
‘Securing this new model for Avila gives even greater choice to European customers, safeguards employment and further demonstrates the competitiveness achieved by our teams as a result of the social and industrial agreement reached in May 2010.’