Nissan’s plan to close Barcelona plant draws protests

BARCELONA — Nissan intends to shut its Barcelona important plant and two close by services ranging from December, however it’ll maintain open two services in northern Spain, the automaker’s Europe chairman, Gianluca De Ficchy, stated.

“There was no viable answer for the way forward for the Barcelona manufacturing unit,” De Ficchy he advised reporters on Thursday as staff protested outdoors the plant.

A whole lot of staff blockaded the plant on Thursday after Nissan stated it could shut the manufacturing unit as a part of a world restructuring plan to slash prices.

The choice is a blow for Spain at a time when unemployment is spiking and a steep recession is looming due to the coronavirus disaster.

The plant and the close by services make use of 3,000 staff and the closures might not directly have an effect on as much as 25,000 jobs, unions say. The automotive business accounts for about 10 p.c of Spain’s gross home product, in keeping with auto business affiliation ANFAC.

The closure was introduced on Thursday by Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida throughout a webcast detailing the automaker’s new world marketing strategy that features a discount of world manufacturing capability by a few fifth to assist reduce 300 billion yen ($2.eight billion) from fastened prices.

Uchida stated Nissan will keep open its plant in Sunderland, England. “In western Europe we are going to keep manufacturing of our core fashions in our UK plant in Sunderland and enhance effectivity,” Uchida stated.

Uchida advised reporters in Japan the corporate would focus on the scenario with the Spanish authorities however declined to elaborate.

Nissan made the choice to finish its operation in Barcelona regardless of proposals made by the native authorities to maintain the plant operating, the Spanish authorities stated in a press release.

The closure would value Nissan as a lot as 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion), the federal government stated, urging the automaker to have a look at different choices.

The Barcelona manufacturing unit has been working because the 1980s. It builds pickups and vans.

Nissan plans to relocate manufacturing of the Navara pickup to South Africa, whereas a alternative for the e-NV200 van could be constructed at Renault’s plant in Maubeuge, France, in keeping with experiences.