Nissan was established in 1933 and, as part of an automotive Alliance including Renault, has so far this year boasted more global sales than any of its competitors for the first time in its history.
While the US, China, Mexico and the UK lead sales, Australia has contributed to producing over 1.6 million of these vehicles, including 806,432 of the 50 million cars sold since the start of 2005.
When Nissan manufactured vehicles locally, 213,472 rolled off Australian production lines, but the skills, productivity and quality of its operations are still highlighted today thanks to the parts that are being manufactured at the Nissan Casting Plant in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
The global economies of scale, and its Alliance synergies, mean that Nissan can continue to invest, assemble and manufacture new and existing products and parts in countries like Australia.
The 200-strong workforce at the Nissan Casting Plant currently produce high-pressure die-cast aluminium final drive components, and oil pan engine and manual transmission parts, which are all exported globally.
“The Dandenong manufacturing plant produces over 2.5 million die-cast aluminium parts and 16,000 tow bars yearly, with an approximate export sales value of over $82 million annually,” said Nissan Casting Plant Managing Director Peter Jones.
“We also manufacture parts that are fitted to the new second-generation Nissan LEAF and other nameplates globally.”
“Showing a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s industrial sector by Nissan, the Kangaroo insignia imprinted on to all Australian-made parts will continue to be a stamp of quality and reliability.”
Nissan’s presence in this region, and elsewhere around the world, will undergo a major shift in coming years as it prepares for the biggest shake-up in the automotive industry for generations: the arrival of autonomous drive technologies, digital connectivity, and growing the number of zero-emission vehicles.
This shift has already begun, with the second-generation Nissan LEAF starting to roll off the production line in Japan – following its recent reveal.
While this is expected to arrive in Australia in late 2018, the LEAF is critical in helping Nissan towards the next 150 million vehicles.