Unconfirmed reports suggest production of the Renault Kadjar and Captur could move to Nissan’s Sunderland flagship factory, as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance looks to maximise production efficiencies.
Last year, Nissan’s Sunderland plant produced 350,000 cars but has the capacity to make 500,000 a year, while the Renault Kadjar and Captur share platforms with the Nissan Qashqai and Juke, which means it would make sense for them to be built at the same factory. At the moment the French SUVs are built in Spain.
The Financial Times reports that the move would be part of a reshuffle within Nissan which would see the Japanese car maker cut overall production by 20% by 2023, closing its commercial vehicle factory in Barcelona which has been running at 30% capacity.
Moving production of two of Renault’s most popular models would be a welcome show of faith for the Nissan’s Sunderland base, which recently received a £400 million investment but was threatened by the potential rise in export duties caused by Brexit.
If the reshuffle goes ahead it is expected to be announced later this month.
Keyword: Renault in talks with Nissan to produce Kadjar and Captur at Nissan’s Sunderland factory