AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico – Nissan is in the middle of expanding production across the Americas. Construction is underway for new manufacturing plants that will be located in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
The project that has made the most progress so far is the new plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This is the third manufacturing complex in the country and the second in the state of Aguascalientes. It is intended to increase manufacturing capacity needed to satisfy the high demand for Nissan vehicles in the Mexican and international markets.
Construction on this plant started in July 2012 and it is nearly 80 percent complete today. About 50 percent of the mechanical and electrical work is done on Phase I. The plant will be up and working in record time, aiming to be operational by the end of 2013.
Nissan’s expanded production will be supported by a network of suppliers based at the adjacent supplier park, as well as from other locations. Vehicles manufactured in Mexico by Nissan have 80 percent domestic content. The facility will bring 3,000 new direct jobs, and about 9,000 within the supply chain and greater community. Leaders here say that’s life changing.
“They are building a future for the state, and it guarantees jobs for everybody. It means the state is doing really well,” said Paulo Cesar Padilla, a Nissan engineer in charge of the construction.
When completed, the plant will be able to produce 175,000 compact vehicles per year (B-platform).