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Japanese carmaker Nissan has revealed it may open its global production network to long-time Chinese partner Dongfeng, as part of a major business overhaul. The move comes amid widespread restructuring, including the layoff of 11,000 workers and closure of seven factories—though locations have not yet been disclosed.
Speaking at a Financial Times conference, Nissan executive Ivan Espinosa reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its Sunderland plant in the UK. “We are launching new cars in Sunderland… in the very short term, there’s no intention to go around Sunderland,” he stated.
Facing declining sales in key markets like China and the US, Nissan announced this week that it would cut 15% of its global workforce and scale back production by 20%. The company employs around 133,500 people worldwide, with approximately 6,000 in Sunderland.
Nissan and Dongfeng have been joint partners for over two decades, currently building vehicles in Wuhan, China. However, Nissan’s own brand has struggled in the highly competitive Chinese market, where local manufacturers have driven down prices.
The company has also dealt with leadership turbulence and recently abandoned merger talks with rival Honda. Following the collapse of negotiations, Makoto Uchida stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by Ivan Espinosa.
Financial pressure continues to mount, with Nissan reporting a $4.6 billion annual loss, exacerbated by tariffs imposed under former US President Donald Trump.
There was some positive news, however. Nissan’s battery partner AESC received a £1 billion UK government investment to build a new battery plant in Sunderland. The facility will support electric models like the Juke and Leaf. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves praised the move as a way to boost high-quality jobs in the North East.
