Nissan Shuts Historic Civac Plant, Shifts Mexican Output to Aguascalientes

Nissan Motor Co. said it will shut its historic CIVAC assembly plant in the state of Morelos and phase out operations at the newer COMPAS facility, consolidating Mexican vehicle production at its larger complex in Aguascalientes. Output at CIVAC, the company’s first plant outside Japan, will cease during the Japanese fiscal year 2025, which ends in March 2026, with full consolidation targeted by fiscal 2027. The move is part of the automaker’s global ReNissan restructuring plan aimed at cutting costs, lifting plant-utilization rates and streamlining logistics. CIVAC has built more than 6.5 million vehicles since opening in 1966 and currently accounts for roughly 11 percent of Nissan’s production in Mexico, including the NP300, Frontier and Versa models that will be transferred to Aguascalientes. Nissan said it will work to ensure a “respectful” transition for employees affected in Morelos and pledged to keep its commercial operations in the country unchanged. The company is in the process of reducing its worldwide manufacturing footprint to 10 plants from 17 as it adjusts capacity to 2.5 million vehicles, excluding China.