With the presence of President Mauricio Macri and Governor of Cordoba province, Juan Schiaretti, Nissan Argentina launched the local production of the pickup “Frontier” at the Santa Isabel neighbourhood factory in the city of Córdoba.

The investment is US $ 600 million and Nissan is planning to produce 9,000 vehicles by the end of the year. The plant, which will produce 70,000 vehicles per year, will also manufacture models for Mercedes Benz and for Renault. For the inauguration, the Nissan Motor CEO, Hiroto Saikawa, travelled especially to Córdoba.

Until now, the Frontier pickup sold in the country was imported from Mexico. When manufactured in Argentina, Nissan will be able to expand the variety of models offered to the public. The aspiration of the company is in the short term to go from the current 3% of the market to 10%.

Saikawa said to Argentine media that the company's plans are long-term. Before the consultation on the fall of the activity that the country is suffering, he said that this has not complicated the strategy of Nissan. "Argentina has an enormous potential if it is well managed”, he said. "President Macri is doing a great job, unfortunately, the country suffers inflation, devaluation, and high-interest rates, but if Macri and his team manage it well, in the short term can surpass this economic storm, countries will believe even more in Argentina”.

The inflation that hits Argentina is one of the reasons that drove the establishment of the Nissan plant. José Luis Valls, the local CEO, explained that to protect against the effects of inflation and devaluation "we have to be highly localized in local currency, today more than 30% of the materials and supplies s are local, we aim to reach more than 40%. We know that we are exposed to inflation and we are working to protect ourselves. "

The investment of the Japanese company will generate 1,000 direct jobs (30% will be women) and 2,000 indirect jobs.

Date: 31 July 2018

Source:https://www.clarin.com/economia/economia/nissan-invierte-us-600-millones-producir-pickups-cordoba_0_B1l_UNC4Q.html