Nissan will manufacture its new utility vehicle for Europe corresponding to the size of the Kangoo at Renault's Maubeuge plant, including the electric versions.
Ashwani Gupta, the deputy managing director of the Japanese manufacturer - of which Renault holds 43% of the capital - confirmed this Friday during a remote press conference.
The Hexagon will remain the place of production of the two other types of utility vehicles, of larger size, corresponding to the Trafic and the Renault Master.
"Our three vans will be made in France,"
said the manager.
The Japanese already relied on Renault's three industrial sites in Maubeuge, Sandouville and Batilly, for its utility vehicles.
The Maubeuge plant is entirely dedicated to the manufacture of small utilities.
In 2020, Renault assembled 89,000 of them, including 9,000 electric Kangoo and only 2,300 examples of the NV 250 (Nissan vans), the twin of the Kangoo.
Renault is preparing to produce the new version of its Kangoo there in the spring.
It also manufactures the Daimler Citan there as part of an industrial partnership.
And in a few months, it will therefore assemble the replacement for the NV250, which is supposed to boost sales of Nissan brand utilities.
The Japanese manufacturer has not yet set a date.
"We are only at the prototype stage
," says Ashwani Gupta
.
We will launch the thermal version first this year, then the electric version.
The volumes will depend on the customers.
They are the ones who will decide!
"
Difficult European market
Nissan has suffered in Europe: it forecasts a 29.6% drop in sales in volume during the annual financial year ended at the end of March 2021. The Japanese group hopes to make up for it this year with the launch of its new Qashqai, and 'Ariya's upcoming electric crossover built on the same platform as the future Megane-E.
“
In Europe, it's true, the market has been difficult.
But the situation is improving: we had too high fixed costs.
We are closing the Barcelona plant for this reason.
And our range is being renewed, ”
said Ashwani Gupta.
He recalled the industrial and geographic distribution within the Alliance which brings together Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi: at Renault, light commercial vehicles, at Nissan, SUVs and electric vehicles.
