Zhengzhou Nissan set to produce two SUV models

Shanghai, March 22 (Gasgoo.com) Nissan Motor will reorganize auto production in China starting April 1, and will shift its two SUV models' production (from Dongfeng Nissan) to Zhengzhou Nissan, Bloomberg reported today, citing a Japanese newspaper.

As Dongfeng Nissan, the passenger car unit of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL), Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group, will start making two models of compact cars, production of two Nissan-brand SUV models will be shifted to the Zhengzhou Nissan, the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper said.

According to an earlier media report, the two SUV models that Zhengzhou Nissan will produce for its sister company Dongfeng Nissan are the Nissan X-trail and Qashqai. The two Nissan SUVs will be produced at the new plant of Zhengzhou Nissan.

Besides NV200, a new car model to be rolled out, Zhengzhou Nissan this year will acquire the sales right of another imported car model from Nissan. Currently, Zhengzhou Nissan is selling SUV Paladin, pick-up trucks, minivans, and light commercial vehicle (LCV) Cabstar.

Zhengzhou Nissan plans to boost the number of its sales outlets from 170 to 200 around China. Last year, the company sold 56,600 vehicles, up 20% from a year earlier.

Nissan Motor, whose China sales last year grew 48% to a record 518,968 vehicles, will raise its annual local production capacity from current 875,000 units to more than 1 million this year by launching its second factory in Zhengzhou and increase capacity at a Guangzhou plant.