Nissan to Cut Rogue, Altima Production in U.S.
Times are tough at Nissan and drastic measures need to be put in motion. The latest example is cutting production of two of the brand’s best-selling models.
According to Automotive News, Nissan in April will eliminate one of two shifts at its Smyrna (Tennessee) and Canton (Mississippi) assembly plants, which manufacture the Rogue compact SUV and Altima midsize sedan.
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Output will also be reduced at the engine plant in Decherd (Tennessee). Overall, up to 13 percent of the hourly workforce at these three facilities will be amputated (through voluntary severance packages) and, based on estimations made by AutoForecast Solutions, 12 percent of Nissan’s total U.S. production will disappear this year.
It’s the old supply-and-demand game once again. Sales of the Rogue and Altima south of the border fell 9.5 percent and 11 percent, respectively, last year. The latter also dropped 12 percent in Canada, while the former rose 22.8 percent.
Back in November, Nissan said it planned to axe 9,000 jobs and slash output by 20 percent globally in a major cost-cutting move resulting from a sharp sales decline.
Then, a month later, Christian Meunier returned to the company, this time as chairman for the Americas. His job of saving the brand in this part of the globe will depend on the possible Honda-Nissan merger that’s being discussed between the two automakers.
The Canton factory will eventually start building electric vehicles, except that one of the planned models (a small crossover) has reportedly been cancelled due to different U.S. market needs. Also, decisions by the new Trump administration regarding EVs could further change Nissan’s plans.
Meanwhile, the Smyrna facility is expected to produce the upcoming Rogue PHEV, although maybe not before 2027, as Automotive News reports.